David Emerson

[Technology Partnerships Canada, October 20th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we did find Bioniche in breach of its contract. We did recover all of the money that went out in contingency fees. The matter has now been dealt with.

[Technology Partnerships Canada, October 20th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada had a contract with Bioniche. We got back all the money that went out in contingency fees. It was Bioniche that was in breach of its contract. That breach was remedied and the money was returned.

[Telecommunications Act, October 19th, 2005]

moved:

Motion No. 1

That Bill C-37, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing line 6 on page 1 with the following:

“41.1 Sections 41.2 to 41.7 create a legislative”

Motion No. 2

That Bill C-37, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing, in the French version, lines 17 and 18 on page 2 with the following:

“rapport sur l’utilisation de la liste d’exclusion nationale pour cet exercice.”

Motion No. 3

That Bill C-37, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing, in the French version, lines 36 and 37 on page 2 with the following:

“aux termes de l’article 41.2 pour les besoins d’une liste d’exclusion nationale ne”

Motion No. 4

That Bill C-37, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing, in the French version, line 4 on page 3 with the following:

“ci est faite — a une relation d’affaires en cours,”

Motion No. 5

That Bill C-37, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing, in the French version, line 6 on page 3 with the following:

“sion quant à la”

Motion No. 6

That Bill C-37, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing, in the French version, line 13 on page 3 with the following:

“lois provinciales pour les besoins d’une élection”

Motion No. 8

That Bill C-37, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing, in the French version, lines 4 to 6 on page 4 with the following:

“« relation d’affaires en cours » Relation d’affaires qui a été créée par une communication bilatérale entre la personne”

Motion No. 9

That Bill C-37, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing, in the French version, lines 38 and 39 on page 4 with the following:

“doit maintenir sa propre liste d’exclusion et veiller à ce qu’aucune”

Motion No. 10

That Bill C-37, in Clause 1, be amended by adding after line 45 on page 4 the following:

“(5) Subsections (3) and (4) do not apply in respect of a person making a telecommunication referred to in paragraph (1)(f).”

[Gasoline Prices, October 19th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the work done by the member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River. He has been a vigorous advocate for those who are affected by high energy prices.

With the changes we are making to the Competition Act, and when we look at the Petroleum Monitoring Agency, we are going to have better information and a sharper ability to move more quickly and fine companies where there is some aberration in pricing conduct through predatory or discriminatory prices. Also, we will have a much larger capacity to fine in cases of criminal conspiracy to fix prices.

[Lobbyists, October 19th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member knows that the Registrar of Lobbyists does operate independently. If there is a violation of the Lobbyists Registration Act, that will be investigated by the Registrar who is aware of all these situations.

It is about time those members focused on public policy instead of hurling more dirt at people for which they do not have any evidence.

[Lobbyists, October 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, we do recover where there are events where companies have paid a contingency fee. The companies know and the lobbyists know that this is against Treasury Board policy. It is not against the act; it is against Treasury Board policy. This government has put in place rigorous policies to make sure that there are no contingency fees permitted and we have recovered every cent.

[David Dingwall, October 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member knows that the agreement with the government is with the company and we have recovered that money. Therefore, if the company chooses to go after Mr. Dingwall, that is the business of the company, not the Government of Canada. We are recovering all taxpayer money. We have done so and we will continue to do so.

[Lobbyists, October 17th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question and I thank the hon. member for giving me the document, of which he spoke, on the weekend. I have not read the document yet but I certainly intend to after question period.

We are dealing very aggressively with the issue of contingency fees. The taxpayers are not out a penny. We are cleaning up all of that and will continue to do so as we go forward.

[Softwood Lumber, October 17th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we have been meeting with the forestry industry off and on all summer. We continue to develop a forestry sector strategy for the industry, recognizing the issues of the softwood lumber industry and recognizing the difficult adjustment that is going on throughout the forestry sector in North America.

[Softwood Lumber, October 5th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Weyerhaeuser mill in Saskatchewan is not actually involved in the softwood lumber business. It is a pulp and paper mill. The pulp and paper business is going through dramatic transformation and change throughout North America. Weyerhaeuser has indicated that it does not fit into their plans. However I think there is still an opportunity for that mill to be acquired by another operator and for those jobs to be saved.