Bonnie Brown

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, there was a mistake made on this file by an official and trust funds were created. It turned out to be a fortuitous mistake because after that Placeteco signed a three-year agreement with its employees and a five-year contract worth $8 million with Bell Helicopter. The company has 69 people working for it. Perhaps this person got the idea of trust funds from the premier of Quebec.

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we respect the taxpayers and that is why we are so proud that 95% of our projects are successful. That is a better record than that of the private sector.

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, anyone who has anything to do with business in his or her lifetime knows there is always an element of risk.

I would like to compare the statistics for our projects with those of the private sector. According to Statistics Canada, about 23% of new ventures do not pass their first birthday, whether because of bankruptcy or closure. The statistics for our projects are that 95% do pass their first birthday, so we compare rather favourably.

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I can only say it so many times. The minister was briefed on November 17. The audit and the plans to fix the problem were released in January. This is a reflection of her own determination to be transparent and open.

The release of 18 binders, five and a half inches thick, proves that we are being open and transparent. We also have an MP inquiry line, and I should tell the House that only 20 calls have been received from opposition members. They do not want to know the facts. They want to draw conclusions without facts.

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Once again, Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party is referring to draft communication plans prepared by the department in preparation for the acceptance of the final audit report, which came much later than when those plans were drafted.

There was absolutely no idea of not releasing it. As a matter of fact, the communication referred to in the papers this morning backs up the fact that the minister was determined to be transparent and open, was determined to release it and did so as soon as all the information was assembled.

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind the House and all Canadians that suggesting that these investigations are representative of what is happening is completely false.

There are 30,000 projects. I want to remind the opposition that in any group of Canadians we will have some people over here who are saints and some people over here who are sinners—we call them criminals—and in the middle we have a broad band of Canadians who are doing their best to improve this country and to help Canadians march forward toward hope. But if we keep focusing on the people over here, then I suggest—

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I want to correct the record on a few things the member said. First, their billion dollar bungle implies that a billion dollars was lost. Such is not the case. We have reiterated that over and over again. The minister moved with alacrity as soon as she had the final report and the final management plan. She ordered a stronger management plan. As soon as it was prepared she released it.

The communications suggestions that Reform members are referring to are naturally part of the whole methodology to deal with the problem. They are nothing more than that. But they will put a negative spin on everything.

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party may jump to conclusions before a final report comes but we do not.

The department did what it should have done. When the first results showed something to be worried about, it began to prepare for the final report. There is nothing untoward about this.

The exchange of letters she refers to took place in December 1999. They show that the minister was determined to be open, transparent and to have a strong management response to these problems.

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

I apologize, Mr. Speaker.

When there is a problem in the department, it is the job of the deputy minister and senior officials to prepare solutions and options for the minister's perusal. I would remind the member that the final audit report was not finalized and brought in until the fall. Before it was presented to the minister it would have had to have the problems outlined with potential solutions.

These draft communications plans to which she refers were part of the potential solutions to be put before the minister after the audit was finalized and the plans were finalized. That happened on November 17, 1999.

[Human Resources Development, March 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is showing her ignorance of government and how it works.