Marcel Massé

[Rcmp Investigations, October 8th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the proof of this government's integrity lies in the fact that the person who requested an investigation by the RCMP was our colleague the Minister of Human Resources Development. He asked for an investigation as soon as he learned of the allegations.

I do not think anyone, especially the Bloc Quebecois, is in a position to point the finger on the subject of taking the appropriate action in such a case.

[Rcmp Investigations, October 8th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, once again we hear innuendoes and accusations from the other side that are not based on fact.

The proper and equitable course to follow is to wait until the RCMP investigation has taken place to see if they will lay charges and what happens if they do. That is the proper way, and not to start affecting the reputations of a number of people who must be held to be innocent until otherwise proven.

[Rcmp Investigations, October 8th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the opposition party is naming people who, so far as I know, have not been charged with anything. An investigation is under way to determine just what happened and whether charges should be laid.

The opposition should refrain from tarnishing the reputation of people who may be innocent and should wait for the investigation to be completed.

[Rcmp Investigations, October 8th, 1997]

Again, Mr. Speaker, this is an investigation in which no charges have been laid so far.

The investigation is under way. I think the opposition should be very careful not to create a situation of injustice where it could drag in the mud someone who may end up not being charged with anything. Let the investigation take its course.

[Rcmp Investigations, October 8th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I think we have to be very careful here, because I myself am not aware that someone in my office may be under investigation.

Questions put by the opposition parties may sully the reputation of innocent people. I think it would be advisable for my hon. colleagues to wait for an investigation to be completed, for charges to be laid and for guilt to be established before taking general information—

[Rcmp Investigations, October 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, since the information on the companies was not of a confidential nature, as the Minister of Human Resources Development indicated, and since the information was widely disseminated, including to opposition parties and to the provincial government, the answer to the hon. member is no.

[Pay Equity, October 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, once again, we have made over $1 billion in equity payments in recent years.

We have made an offer of $1,3 billion and we intend to leave this offer on the table, and when the unions are ready to negotiate, they have only to come back.

[Main Estimates, 1997-98, October 1st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 81, I move:

That the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998, laid upon the Table on October 1, 1997, be referred to the several Standing Committees of the House, as follows:

The list of estimates referred to in this motion being long, I would ask that the House give its consent to have it printed in Hansard without being read.

[Main Estimates, 1997-98, October 1st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to table again, in support of the estimates, part I, the government expenditure plan.

In addition I will table with the Clerk of the House, on behalf of my colleagues, part III of the estimates consisting of 78 departmental expenditure plans. These documents will be distributed to the members of the standing committees to facilitate their consideration of the spending authority requested in part II.

These documents are identical to the budget documents tabled in the House on February 20, 1997.

[Pay Equity, October 1st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is obviously misinformed if she believes that the government has not been applying the law.

There is at present a case in front of the human rights tribunal and we are waiting for that judgment to be rendered. Once again, we have been trying to negotiate with the union to get a fair settlement. We stand ready to apply the various judgments once they are made final.