Art Eggleton

[Public Service, May 31st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I signed a joint agreement with union leaders that will provide for joint adjustment committees to assist employees who are leaving the public service as a result of the downsizing that is taking place. This is in order to help them find alternate jobs. This will provide transition support services. For example, one such committee here in Ottawa next week is providing a job fair for a number of people who will be leaving the public service. So these joint management and union committees right across the country will assist on a regional, local, and departmental basis to help the people who are being displaced by downsizing to find new jobs.

[Winnipeg Jets, May 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we are not in the business of investing in hockey teams. We are in the business of investing in facilities. Because the city of Winnipeg wants to proceed with this project, it is quite eligible under the infrastructure works program.

The infrastructure works program has created to this point some 100,000 jobs, which is what this is about, creating jobs in our communities, strenghthening the infrastructure. That is where we have made our investment.

[Official Languages, May 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, there is changing technology. The government certainly is committed to moving as quickly as it can to ensure that people can have the services of this government in the official language of their choice. A great deal of progress has been made by this government to do exactly that.

I have indicated before in the House the new publications that have been brought out to assist our departments in making sure that happens, providing information to the public on where they can get service in the official language of their choice and publishing it in minority language newspapers. I can go on and on.

The government intends to ensure that the Official Languages Act and its regulations are followed so that Canadians can have service in the official language of their choice.

[Official Languages, May 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated before in the House, we certainly intend to have the Official Languages Act and its regulations upheld. Canadians should be able to get service in the official language of their choice.

I understand the Internet primarily deals in the English language. What we need to do, in terms of ensuring that our government services are provided in both official languages, is take the necessary action to help ensure that happens.

[Infrastructure Program, May 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, talking about having it both ways, who said: "I am writing to further offer my strong support for the project because of significant job creation?"

The project in Winnipeg will create thousands of jobs for the people of that city. It will create a great amount of economic activity. It is a priority of the city, a priority of the provincial government. Those are the rules under which we have been operating the infrastructure program.

[Infrastructure Program, May 18th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the infrastructure program, as I think the Prime Minister has pointed out, is based on local needs and local priorities to create jobs, strengthen the infrastructure of our communities so that we can attract additional investment dollars and provide more jobs.

The hon. member has an arena in his own constituency which also provides facilities for hockey players. He has supported infrastructure projects in his province.

[Foreign Affairs, May 17th, 1995]

Not at all, Mr. Speaker, as has been pointed out.

A number of diplomats serve in hardship posts in spots in the world that nobody would envy. We want to give them and their families the opportunity to be able to come home from time to time. That was the purpose behind all of this.

Having said that, we have to make sure of the best value for the taxpayers' dollar. The program has to be operated in an efficient fashion. We are reviewing it in the normal three-year cycle and will be negotiating this matter with the bargaining agents this fall.

[Foreign Affairs, May 17th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, it has long been a tradition that those in foreign posts, particularly those considered to be in hardship posts, would have the opportunity for themselves and their families to return home from time to time, once a year in fact.

Of late the policy has involved a reduction in the amount of money to 80 per cent of the full economy fare. That has been on a test basis. All of that is subject to review. Every three years a review is automatically required. It is part of the union agreements. Therefore we will do it with the bargaining agents and it will be done this fall.

[Auditor General's Report, May 12th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear this praise for the auditor general because we accept his report. I think his report has given some very useful suggestions.

He has pointed out that when it comes to our public service, when it comes to our government, we take a back seat to nobody when it comes to the ethical standards that are practised by the government and its public service. It is comparable very favourably, as he pointed out, to other governments and to the private sector.

The amendments that they apparently want to the motion that my colleague, the House leader, has put before us are to exempt a whole body from any kind of code of conduct. The other House I believe is the proper phrase. I think it is time they showed some good faith in trying to get the matter through so that we can further deal with the matter of ethics.

[Auditor General's Report, May 12th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to all of what I enunciated yesterday in terms of the high level of ethical standards that the government espouses and that the public service carries out, my colleague, the House leader, put before the House a proposition for a special joint committee of the Senate and the House of Commons on a code of conduct.

I understand the difficulty is that the members opposite in the Reform Party are filibustering the attempt to set it up. If they would get behind this effort we could even go an extra step. We already have the ethics counsellor, the code of employment and conflict of interest. We have already changed the Lobbyists Registration Act. We have already changed the certification of lobbyists with respect to contracts. We have done a great deal. I think the auditor general recognized that in his report.

There is always room for more improvement and we will carry out more improvement. A lot has been done. Let them come on side in terms of getting through the proposition the House leader has put before us on a code of conduct.