Marcel Massé

[Official Languages, October 3rd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I think the opposition member missed the main point of the report. The main point is that the position of official languages in Canada is improving steadily, and the report indicates that progress is continuing in nearly all areas, including service to the public, language of work and equitable representation of francophones and anglophones in the Public Service.

In Quebec, the proportion of anglophones and allophones is nearly 20 per cent, and consequently we have a proportionate number of bilingual public servants which reflects the needs of the province.

In the other provinces, the percentages are much lower, and consequently the number of bilingual public servants is lower but adequate to existing needs.

[Official Languages, October 3rd, 1996]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a report on official languages in federal institutions.

[Government Assistance, September 27th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, all payments under the disaster financial assistance arrangements are made according to the same criteria and all the provinces are treated fairly and equitably.

The Manitoba government has already been paid advance payments of $7 million for the 1993 floods. In July of this year we received a request from the Government of Manitoba telling us the amount of damages for the 1995 and 1996 floods but there was no request for an advance payment to be made and therefore no advance payment was made.

In this case, all the rules have been followed and Manitoba has been treated in a totally fair and equitable manner.

[Canadian Armed Forces, September 27th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the allegations of the member opposite are simply incorrect.

Yesterday the Prime Minister indicated the number of contracts that have been allocated to people who were ex-candidates for the Reform Party. The criteria have to do with efficiency, ability to meet the requirements of the contract within the moneys allocated. This is what has been done.

[Canadian Armed Forces, September 27th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, there are rules for these contracts which are clear. Each department has delegated authority to assign some contracts according to rules which are provided by the Treasury Board. These rules have been followed by the minister of defence.

I am assured that all the rules that were in place have been followed. In this case, the rules that apply are similar to the rules

that apply to the Leader of the Opposition and to the leader of the third party. These contracts have to meet certain criteria. I am informed they have all been met.

[Supply, September 18th, 1996]

moved that Bill C-56 be read a third time and passed.

[Supply, September 18th, 1996]

moved that the bill be concurred in at report stage.

[Supply, September 18th, 1996]

Mr. Chairman, the bill is indeed consistent with those from previous years.

[Supply, September 18th, 1996]

moved that Bill C-56, an act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the Public Service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 1997, be read the second time and referred to committee of the whole.

[Supply, September 18th, 1996]

moved that Bill C-56, an act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the Public Service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 1997, be read the first time.

(Motion deemed adopted and bill read the first time.)