Mr. Speaker, I can only repeat what I have already said. The decision made public yesterday raises extremely complex points requiring detailed consideration and consultation, in particular with our lawyers, before we take any sort of a position.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1997, with 54% of the vote.
Human Rights June 14th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I can only repeat what I have already said. The decision made public yesterday raises extremely complex points requiring detailed consideration and consultation, in particular with our lawyers, before we take any sort of a position.
Human Rights June 14th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, this decision, made public yesterday morning at 9.30, contains some very complex points that will require a few days to untangle. We are not making any decision on the important issue of appeal until we have studied the consequences of the decision in detail.
Government Contracts May 30th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I have explained already the fact that there are two types of budgets. Departmental budgets are there in order to study and implement government policies. There are strict rules of employment. There are also exempt staff budgets. They are called that because the staff is exempt from certain rules. These rules exist as much for members of Parliament as they exist for ministers. There are hon. members by the way who have their campaign managers on staff and I can name them.
Under exempt staff rules the minister can employ staff who have a partisan relationship, and they are exempted by the rules from the normal rules that apply to the public service.
Government Contracts May 30th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the rules about contract splitting are clear. They indicate that if a contract is for the same purpose, the same object and if the contract is given at the time when it should be above $30,000, it should not be the sole source. The rules also indicate that if the contract is
below $30,000 and is for an object that at the time the contract is given is believed to be studied within the $30,000, this is according to the guidelines. This is what I understand happened in this case.
Infrastructure Program May 29th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the federal government and the Quebec government have agreed on the changes required to extend the time frames provided for in the Canada-Quebec agreement on the infrastructure program.
Details will be announced shortly and I encourage Quebec municipalities to fill in their applications as quickly as possible. I am also pleased to announce that more than 12,000 infrastructure projects were approved during the first two years of the program, including 2,400 projects in Quebec, which represents a $1.8 billion investment and accounts for the creation of thousands of jobs in Quebec.
Government Contracts May 28th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the member should recognize that he too has a political budget. If he looks at his budget as a member of Parliament, the secretary he hires and the people who are hired to give him advice under that budget are usually picked because they are of a certain political colour. Every member of Parliament and every minister has an exempt staff budget.
The member talks about patronage. He is trying to use loaded words. He does not recognize the fact that these budgets are term exempt staff budgets because they usually employ people who give advice of a partisan nature.
Government Contracts May 28th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I can only repeat what I said yesterday. Department of National Defence and Treasury Board officials checked the contracts and found them to be in compliance with the guidelines regarding ministerial office budgets. I would add that we have exempt staff budgets which have different rules because there is some advice that is given which is of a partisan nature. There is a difference between these two types of budgets for that reason.
In this case advice was solicited by the Minister of National Defence. It was for advice which he judged to be necessary. Once again, it was done in compliance with Treasury Board guidelines for these budgets.
Government Contracts May 27th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, once again we have looked at these various contracts to give advice on a difficult subject. The work was performed by a trained economist who could speak English and Greek and was aware of the various problems that existed in the area of veterans and veterans allowances. All the rules of Treasury Board have been satisfied.
Government Contracts May 27th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the Treasury Board has checked the various contracts that have been mentioned. These contracts have been for work carried out to give personal advice to the Minister of National Defence on a very difficult and complex subject. All the rules of Treasury Board have been respected in allocating these contracts.
Referendums May 13th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, again, what is at issue in this case is which government policies will help Canadians, including Quebecers, better deal with the problems of tomorrow. That is what people are afraid of. Yes, the matter of the referendum does increase uncertainty in Quebec, reduce investment and aggravate unemployment, and that is what people are afraid of.
As those who conduct door-to-door polls in the Montreal ridings realize, people know that the option advocated by the Bloc Quebecois and the Parti Quebecois reduces the number of jobs, reduces investment in Quebec, reduces their income, and that is what they are afraid of. What they want is good government and not the uncertainty of a referendum.