Alfonso Gagliano

[Business Of The House, May 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the business tomorrow will be report stage of Bill C-12, the labour code amendments.

Next week is a constituency week. When the House resumes on May 29, the business will be Bill C-16, the citizenship bill; Bill C-33, the species at risk legislation; and Bill C-31, the immigration bill.

Tuesday, May 30 shall be an allotted day. I understand that there will be agreement to sit later than usual to consider a proposed change to the migratory birds convention.

On Wednesday, May 31 we hope to deal with third reading of Bill C-12.

With regard to the two specific pieces of legislation to which the opposition House leader referred, I will transmit the question to our House leader. I am sure that when he is back in the House tomorrow, he will answer that.

[Public Works And Government Services, May 11th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, after a media report on the transaction of the property in Brampton, the management of Canada Lands asked KPMG to conduct an independent audit. The report indicates very clearly that there were no irregularities. It also said that a series of special circumstances allowed the original purchaser to sell the property at a considerable profit. This property was put on the market through two prominent real estate firms for 18 months. This is a long time for the real estate profession.

[Canada Information Office, May 11th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Information Office participated, in partnership with BCE Média and the CRB Foundation in a program called “Le Canada du millénaire”.

In it we addressed the challenges Canada faces with its millennium programs.

[Public Works And Government Services, May 4th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, again, the work is on time. I explained why it was taking a certain time to make sure that when members of parliament move to the building they can have the same installation and accommodation as they have in the existing building.

Maybe the hon. member should ask his own House leader who sits on the Board of Internal Economy. Maybe he would understand.

[Public Works And Government Services, May 4th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, if I understand the question of the hon. member, there has been no delay. Work on the justice building is going as planned. Because of the new communication technology that all members of parliament enjoy we want to make sure that such tools of communication are installed in the justice building before the building is turned over to you, Mr. Speaker, and members of parliament. Work is going according to schedule.

[Public Works And Government Services, May 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, four times a year, the auditor general tables his report in the House.

In November 1999, there was a report on this and, as I have just said, 94% of contracts awarded by my department are posted in the MERX electronic procurement system.

[Public Works And Government Services, May 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I will say this very slowly so the hon. member can understand. Since we have been in government, 94% of Public Works and Government Services contracts have been posted in MERX, the electronic procurement system, so that everybody can participate.

This is an open system, not like the system the previous Conservative government had where only 50% were tendered.

[Public Works And Government Services, May 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, maybe I should remind the hon. member that when his party was in power only 50% of the contracts were tendered. Before he stands up he should look at himself in the mirror.

[Public Works And Government Services, May 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know where the hon. member got those figures. It was just yesterday that I looked at the figures and in my department 66% of the contracts went to public tender. Only 6% were sole sourced and the balance were under the program where, as we advised before, we give a contract if there is no other possibility. The hon. member has all the figures wrong.

The auditor general is there on a daily basis and he audits all the programs that we have. I do not have to invite him. He is already there.

[Public Works And Government Services, May 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the auditor general always reviews what we do in government. We do not have to invite him, he is already there. When the auditor general makes his report, parliament takes account of what he reports.