Denis Coderre

[Points of Order, October 28th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, during question period, my colleague from Winnipeg South Centre asked a question of the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. I understand that the minister wants his place in the sun and wants to leave a legacy, but he said something completely wrong. He said that the Liberal government at the time did absolutely nothing for Manitoba, and he tried to take credit for the skilled worker program between the governments of Canada and Manitoba.

Not only did the Liberal government initiate that program, but yours truly signed it, Mr. Speaker.

I would like the minister to make amends, acknowledge that he made a mistake, and apologize.

[Public Works and Government Services, October 25th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, it seems that one of the criticisms coming from certain entrepreneurs is that the bidding process was tampered with.

In the case of Mr. Sauvé, for example, the criteria were changed one week before the decision was made so that he could win the contract.

We are now learning that the contract won by Multivesco was not planned and that the fight should have been over the two contracts that were awarded to Mr. Broccolini.

Was the former public works minister, now the Minister of Natural Resources, aware of this third contract while he was speaking with Mr. Broccolini at the cocktail party? When did he approve this measure that no one was expecting? Who was he trying to please?

[Public Works and Government Services, October 25th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources and the Conservatives' Quebec lieutenant now regrets having participated in a fundraising cocktail party for the Conservative riding association in Bourassa at the Da Enrico restaurant in January 2009.

We know that he has changed his version of the story three times since the beginning. On Friday, Paul Sauvé added to it by stating that they discussed construction almost exclusively at the party.

Can the minister confirm that he told Mr. Broccolini and others attendees to call his office, and not civil servants, for information?

[Government Contracts, October 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I do not hand out $140,000 contracts. My question is clear. Since yesterday the Prime Minister has been saying that no members of the government are part of the RCMP inquiry. Since when does a Prime Minister get involved in RCMP matters?

Since the minister responsible for Quebec attended, as a political minister, a cocktail fundraiser hosted by Paul Sauvé, who is under investigation by the RCMP, there are two possibilities. Did the Prime Minister mislead the House or is he getting involved in RCMP matters?

[Government Contracts, October 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Natural Resources admitted that he attended a cocktail fundraiser hosted by Mr. Sauvé. Mr. Sauvé candidly said it was the thing to do to please the government.

Can the Minister of Natural Resources and the Quebec lieutenant tell us who organized this?

[Government Contracts, October 6th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, by the way, let us not forget that we are talking about the Conservative party.

Did he discuss contracts with Mr. Sauvé and Mr. Varin, since Mr. Sauvé himself just told us that he organized the event to please the minister because that was the thing to do?

If that is the case, what is the Prime Minister waiting for to send this minister packing?

[Government Contracts, October 6th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources, the Quebec lieutenant and former Minister of Public Works.

On January 22, 2009, did the minister attend the same fundraising party that Mr. Varin and Mr. Sauvé attended?

[Ministerial Responsibility, October 5th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, if this goes on much longer, the minister will be out of staffers. He will have to go recruiting.

Here is another example of an email. When an official asks Mr. Togneri for an explanation, saying, and I quote: “Please exclude what is highlighted”, the minister's former aide answers, “Please contact Marc Toupin on that file.” That proves that Togneri was not acting alone.

Instead of pleading ignorance, the minister should have the courage to shoulder his ministerial responsibilities. If he is a man of honour, is he prepared to resign?

[Ministerial Responsibility, October 5th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the noose is tightening around the Minister of Natural Resources's neck. There is more and more evidence that Mr. Togneri, his scapegoat aide who just resigned, was not acting alone. Another two of his assistants seem to have been in on the plot.

Two emails obtained by the media concerning access to information requests show that Mr. Togneri referred departmental officials to his colleagues, Marc Toupin and Julian Andrews.

Now that the Prime Minister has just said that the minister is responsible for his staffers, will the minister also ask his two assistants to resign?

[Ministerial Responsibility, October 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, ministerial responsibility also consists of answering questions about his department.

It has been said that information is the cornerstone of a democracy and that without adequate access to key information about government policies and programs, incompetent or corrupt governance can be hidden under a cloak of secrecy. Who said that? The current Prime Minister of Canada.

Will the Prime Minister heed his own words and ask for the resignation of the Minister of Natural Resources.