David McGuinty

[Committees of the House, June 14th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her speech, which I listened to carefully.

I have a very simple question for the hon. member. Does the hon. member think that the JDS Uniphase case and the government's conduct in that case are part of a trend in accountability? She mentioned Bill C-2, which aims to increase accountability. In my opinion, all parliamentarians are working together to that end. She said that the purpose of the bill was to achieve greater transparency.

Does the hon. member think that the JDS Uniphase case, which comes on the heels of the announcement by the defence minister that the government intends to purchase aircraft from the United States for $3.2 billion, is part of a trend that Canadians should monitor more closely?

[Airbus, June 13th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, this morning for the second time in the Montreal Gazette there was an editorial on the links between former Prime Minister Mulroney and Karlheinz Schreiber. Without a doubt, it is high time to answer the questions surrounding this relationship, questions that have remained unanswered thus far. All parties concerned, and all Canadians, would like the facts to be made clear. The Montreal Gazette talks about $2.1 million taken from taxpayers' pockets. It says the Prime Minister should address the Airbus affair, whatever the outcome.

The Prime Minister has had months to give us an update. Will he finally set up an independent inquiry?

[Airbus, June 13th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, this morning we read for a second time an editorial in the Montreal Gazette about former Prime Minister Mulroney and his relationship with Karlheinz Schreiber. The editorial refers to three questionable $100,000 payments to Mr. Mulroney, something the former PM has acknowledge receiving.

All parties involved and all Canadians would like to see the facts on the table. The Prime Minister has had months to deal with the situation.

The Gazette states that his government would be expected to have some interest in the airbus affair, no matter where it might lead.

In light of this powerful editorial, is the Prime Minister prepared to call a public inquiry into this matter?

[The Environment, June 8th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, there is no plan. There are no timelines.

The Asia-Pacific 6 is disintegrating. The minister has missed two United Nations deadlines while she says she leads the process. Canadians disagree. Top economists disagree. Provinces and cities disagree. This Parliament disagrees.

Let me put this question to the Prime Minister. The global emissions trading market under Kyoto would create a new $150 billion a year securities market. While the climate warms, why is the Prime Minister intent on leaving Canadian businesses out in the cold?

[The Environment, June 8th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, according to a poll in Quebec, 79% of Quebeckers prefer the commitments made under the Kyoto protocol to the government's position.

While the minister was pondering the idea of a useless Asia-Pacific partnership, she missed two deadlines at the United Nations. She has no plan and no timeline. Canadians are against it, economists are against it, the provinces and cities are against it, and Parliament is against it.

Will the minister admit that no matter what she proposes to replace the Kyoto protocol, she will never have the support of Canadians?

[James Caddell Memorial Scholarship, June 5th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my congratulations to Andrew Caddell, my constituent and the father of James Caddell. This past week, he conducted a successful marathon, raising money for the James Caddell Memorial Scholarship for Orphans to aid impoverished and orphaned children to seek a better life through education. The scholarship will give many underprivileged children a way to achieve their potential.

James Caddell was an outstanding citizen with an unwavering commitment to aiding the less fortunate. He led a rich life. He served his family and his country as a devoted soldier, humanitarian, husband and son. He was a recipient of the peacekeeping service and UNPROFOR medals. As well, James was an avid marathon runner.

Although James planned on beginning this humanitarian project upon returning to Canada, in a tragic turn of events he fell ill and passed away on October 16, 2005 from pulmonary edema in Tupiza, Bolivia.

With this scholarship, James' devotion to helping others will carry on.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 2nd, 2006]

It is too bad the facts, Mr. Speaker, do not actually match the minister's rhetoric.

Treasury Board guidelines continue to require that the government minister do business with aboriginal enterprises and the minister's own website strongly encourages aboriginal businesses across Canada to apply for PSAB contracts.

First we learn that an aboriginal company in Winnipeg is cut off after nine years of successful service. Now, without notice, without consultation and without any reason given, an aboriginal company in my own riding is put at risk, jeopardizing over 100 jobs, $40 million in business, and internal documents confirm our worst suspicions.

Not only has the government thrown out the Kelowna accord but now it is actively undermining successful aboriginal--

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 2nd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, our government created the procurement strategy for aboriginal business, which has been a great success. The strategy was renewed in 2001 and in 2003. It is up for review this year. However, according to documents I obtained from his department, the minister is preparing to quietly abolish this measure, without warning, without consultation and without reason. He is sabotaging the very essence of the Kelowna accord.

Will the minister explain why promoting the success of our aboriginal communities is no longer one of the government's priorities?

[The Environment, May 15th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the minister knows very well that EnerGuide, a made-to-measure program for Canada, was a huge success.

Can the Minister tell the House when the EnerGuide program fell out of favour with the Conservative government? Was it when the Conservatives were looking for money to finance their budget promises and realized that the coffers were emptying a bit too quickly? Or was it when they abandoned any semblance of financial support for protecting Canada's environment?

[The Environment, May 15th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the government pretends to be looking for a made in Canada solution to global warming. It is really too bad that it has not bothered to look in Canada.

Last week the government cancelled the EnerGuide program that helps Canadians make their homes more energy efficient. According to the World Wildlife Fund, this was an incredibly successful program that has helped hundreds of thousands of Canadian households reduce their energy bills by 30%. CanWest news business editor Bruce Johnstone calls cancelling the program a major and silly “mistake”.

Why would the government abandon a successful, made in Canada program?