Marcel Massé

[Infrastructure Program, November 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the unemployment rate at 10 per cent is too high, but I think we should remember that since we have come into office we have helped to create about 700,000 jobs. The unemployment rate has decreased from 11.4 per cent to the present 10 per cent.

The best way in which a government can help to decrease that unemployment rate is obviously by helping to decrease interest rates. We now have the lowest interest rates in 30 years which of course helps investment and creates jobs.

The infrastructure program has created jobs, probably more than 110,000. We are still in the process of considering the pros and cons and the decision should be made within a few weeks.

[Ethics, November 7th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the member is simply and clearly inviting me to break the law. I think this is unethical behaviour.

[Ethics, November 7th, 1996]

No, Mr. Speaker. The House or the members do not have access to personal information of a confidential nature. This is a right of individuals that is protected in our laws and that we will continue to protect.

So that members will know exactly the source, it is under section 19 of the Access to Information Act: "A government institution shall not disclose personal information". That includes Parliament.

The Access to Information Act goes on to say: "The definition of personal information stated under the Privacy Act applies". Personal financial transactions are clearly included under personal information.

The member should apply his time to other types of questions rather than hitting a wall that protects the privacy of personal information.

[Ethics, November 6th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, once again the rule is clear. Government travel cards should be used for official government expenses. When they are not, when they are used for personal expenses, then the card holder must reimburse all personal expenses.

This is exactly what the secretary of state did. She has reimbursed all the expenditures which were made with the government travel card. In this case, she has followed the rules and has presented excuses for what she has done, but what she has done is considered to be under the rules.

Once again if we were to have a beer or see a film in our hotel room which is on an account and we pay with a government card, the rules say that we must reimburse that personal expenditure. This is exactly what the secretary of state did. She made excuses for using a government travel card. She now has a personal expenditure travel card. That is the end of it.

[Ethics, November 6th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I can only repeat what I said yesterday.

Under section 19 of the Access to Information Act, a government institution shall not disclose personal information. The Access to Information Act goes on to say that the definition of personal information stated under the Privacy Act applies. Personal financial transactions are included under personal information under the Privacy Act. Therefore, these things should not be given for public scrutiny because they are protected under the Privacy Act. It is clear and that is the end of the matter.

[Ethics, November 5th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the personal expenditures of the member are information that is of a personal nature and is covered under the Privacy Act.

It is the role of the comptroller in every department to look at the expenditures and to determine what is official government expenditure and what is personal expenditure. That is what happened in this case. There is no mystery to it. The comptrollers have gone through it. All the money has been repaid.

[The Canadian Armed Forces, November 1st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the terms and conditions relating to the departure of governor in council appointees are a Treasury Board responsibility, which is why I am answering these questions. Obviously, if the hon. member does not agree with the interpretation given by our legal officers, he can go to the information commissioner.

As for us, we feel that General Boyle faithfully served his country and that he is entitled to the same protection as any other Canadian, under the Privacy Act.

[The Canadian Armed Forces, November 1st, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, we also have lawyers who give us the best possible interpretation of the act. The interpretation is that General Boyle is entitled to the same benefits, the same pension and the same protection of personal information as other officers, public servants and people covered by the act.

In this case, the entitlements and amounts to which a person is eligible are considered to be personal information whose disclosure is prohibited under the Privacy Act.

[The Role Of Government, October 31st, 1996]

Madam Speaker, honourable members, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour today of tabling "Getting Government Right: Improving Results Measurement and Accountability". This is the second annual report of the President of the Treasury Board, a report that focuses on results, performance and accountability.

My report does not stop at listing the key reviews and their objectives, but also shows what Canadians have a right to expect for their tax dollars.

This report states what 16 government departments and agencies expect from their activities. We have devised a new format that makes this report easy to read. Our new approach is based squarely on program review decisions and departments' business plans. This is the first time the government has compiled this information in one document.

I am also tabling today 16 departmental performance reports. These pilot documents demonstrate our new results based way of managing in the public sector. They will help Canadians understand the objectives of each department and agency as well as the progress made in meeting those objectives.

Federal departments and agencies must from now on meet three requirements: first, identify and communicate the results expected; second, improve the measurement of these results; and, third, improve the way they report to Parliament.

The documents I am tabling today show that we are honouring our commitment to constantly improve the information we give to Parliament and to Canadians, in a way that is open and transparent. Having the right information at the right time will allow Parliament to perform its work better. Improving the quality of information will ensure better informed discussions and debates within government, in this House, and among Canadians. The quality of these debates will, in turn, lead to better decisions, improved accountability and, ultimately, better government.

I would like at this point to draw attention to the untiring work of the hon. member for St. Boniface, who has led parliamentarians in defining their needs for information on expenditure management. With his help, we have developed documents that are more concise, more clear, and focused on results.

These reports are an important step in the process of planning for the next fiscal year.

If the pilot documents meet our expectations, we plan to seek the permission of the House to require all departments and agencies to table separate reports on planning in the spring and on performance in the fall.

I think that the efforts of members of the government to objectively assess how well they met their commitments will be encouraging to everyone.

Focusing our attention on results and demonstrating our achievements are an important step in our efforts to get government right.

[Tabling Of Documents, October 31st, 1996]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a report entitled "Getting Government Right: Improving Results Measurement and Accountability with Departmental Performance Reports", the President of the Treasury Board's annual report to Parliament.

Madam Speaker, I also have the honour of tabling 16 pilot reports on performance.