Stéphan Tremblay

[Minister For International Trade, March 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister for International Trade said that he had had very good conversations with his deputy minister, that he had every confidence, and that he wanted to reassure the House.

The minister must also have had some good conversations with his former deputy ministers at CIDA and Human Resources Development Canada. But we see nothing but disaster and scandal in his wake.

How can we believe the minister and have confidence in him when he has in his hands a budget of over $1 billion that is completely exempt from the Access to Information Act?

[Human Resources Development, March 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Human Resources Development chose Mr. Champagne to act on its behalf as trustee for a $1.2 million grant, until Placeteco's bankruptcy was settled. It so happens that Mr. Champagne also represents Claude Gauthier, who snapped up the bankrupt company.

Does the minister find it normal for Mr. Champagne to be her trustee and Claude Gauthier's lawyer at the same time?

[Human Resources Development, February 25th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I will put a more general question to the Deputy Prime Minister, or other delegated ministers, or perhaps the Minister for International Trade could answer.

Is what we have here not proof of the practices fit for the dark ages that the Minister of Human Resources Development condemned when she first took up her post?

[Human Resources Development, February 25th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Rosemont was told by the assistant deputy minister of Human Resources Development Canada that the entire grant of $165,984 was paid to Mr. Goldberger's company on April 14, 1998. Yet this same deputy minister admits that only five jobs had been created by that date.

Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell us whether it is routine practice for this government to distribute the full amount of grants even before jobs have been created?

[Human Resources Development, February 22nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, by her reply, is the minister implying that her predecessor did not sign such a letter?

[Human Resources Development, February 22nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked the Minister of Human Resources Development why her predecessor had not signed a letter similar to hers delegating signing authority to the deputy minister. She did not answer me.

I am therefore asking the same question of the minister today. Can she explain to us why her predecessor did not sign such a letter?

[Human Resources Development, February 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, another question for the Minister of Human Resources Development or the Minister of International Trade.

The minister signed a letter delegating her signing authority to her Deputy Minister, supposedly to avoid a conflict of interest, supposedly to protect her integrity.

Can the minister tell this House whether her predecessor had also signed such a letter?

[Human Resources Development, February 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, in last Friday's question period, the Minister of Veterans Affairs answered a question instead of the Minister of Human Resources Development.

My question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development or the Minister for International Trade. How can she, or he, explain why the administration of that department was, until the summer of 1999, characterized as being suitable for the Middle Ages?

[Human Resources Development, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, when in Paris, the Minister for International Trade announced that he would answer press questions once he returned to Ottawa. He changed his mind, of his own accord surely, once he got back here.

Yesterday, the minister said he had made the decision, on his own, not to answer questions by parliamentarians on his time at Human Resources Development Canada.

Is he capable, on his own, of changing his mind and, on his honour and by his own decision, of appearing before the committee?

[Human Resources Development, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources Development has passed severe judgment on the administration of her predecessor in that portfolio, in describing his administration as fit for the Middle Ages.

That judgment notwithstanding, and despite all that has been said or written on the matter, the Minister for International Trade remains imperturbable.

Can the minister tell this House whether he feels implicated by the very harsh judgment by his colleague of his administration of the department of Human Resources Development?