Diane Finley

[Public Works and Government Services, May 29th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the member has her questions all wrong. She has her facts all wrong. In fact, we have been living up to our commitment to provide our men and women in uniform with the equipment they need to do the job we ask of them. We have delivered the new Globemasters, five of them, the C-17 tactical lift transporters; new battle tanks; LAVs; and new heavy artillery. We have been doing the refit and modernization of the Halifax-class frigate.

Next month, we are also expecting to take delivery of the Cyclones, the new helicopters that will allow us to finally start retiring the Sea Kings.

Sadly, one thing that is consistent is that the member and her party voted against every one of these acquisitions.

[Public Works and Government Services, May 15th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of people working in those buildings remains our priority.

Yesterday, the chief public health officer said that the risk to people working in those buildings was low. According to official statements, the risk to the buildings' occupants is low. They can safely work there.

That said, an information line is available to people with questions or concerns and the necessary measures have been taken to monitor and manage the situation.

[Questions on the Order Paper, May 7th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a) (i) (ii), in processing parliamentary returns, the government applies the principles set out in the Access to Information Act. As a result, this information cannot be released on the grounds that it constitutes third party information.

With regard to (b), the mandate of the task force, which is an ad hoc working group, is to consult with suppliers and industry associations about their practices, and analyze ethical procurement approaches of other government organizations as well as prevailing international standards. The working group has collected information in the following areas: metrics on PWGSC apparel contracts; international conventions, principles, standards and guidelines related to corporate social responsibility and ethical sourcing; related Government of Canada initiatives; practices of other jurisdictions within Canada and abroad; and supplier practices and experiences in relation to corporate social responsibility and ethical sourcing. It is important to note that currently, almost 90% of garments purchased by PWGSC are for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Department of National Defence, and 98% of those garments are made in Canada.

With regard to (c) (i) (ii), the working group is composed of PWGSC procurement and procurement policy officials as well as a consultant contracted to coordinate and help conduct research. The group is led by the senior director, consumer and commercial products directorate and the senior director from the acquisition program’s policy directorate. Members of the group have experience and expertise in the areas of apparel procurement and policy development.

With regard to (d), the working group collected information from various apparel companies, industry representatives, non-governmental organizations and other levels of government.

With regard to (e), effective April 1, 2014, an origin of work provision clause, country only, is included in all solicitations for apparel. In August 2014, PWGSC began posting the manufacturer’s country of origin on its Buy and Sell website.On November 29, 2013, PWGSC published on Buyandsell.gc.ca the national goods and services procurement strategy for clothing and textiles: https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-13-00541965. All PWGSC procurement policies are available online through the PWGSC Internet site: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/dpa-ppd-eng.html.

With regard to (f) to (i), the findings of the working group are currently being reviewed. PWGSC will consult with industry stakeholders on any proposed procurement practice revisions.

With regard to (j), the working group is funded from within existing reference levels and largely using resources simultaneously working on other related files. As a result, the precise costs associated only with the group’s activities cannot be estimated.

[Public Works and Government Services Canada, May 4th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, our government is determined to provide our men and women of the armed forces with the equipment they need to do their jobs. Our national shipbuilding procurement strategy is expected to create 15,000 jobs with $2 billion in benefits every year. Nearly 200 businesses in Canada have already earned nearly $500 million in revenues.

[Manufacturing Industry, March 27th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, today our government was pleased to announce that FibreCast Inc. would receive a $10 million repayable contribution under the advanced manufacturing fund. This investment will help Ontario manufacturers create high quality high paying jobs and compete globally.

While we are standing up for the manufacturing sector, the Liberal leader said that Canada needed to start, “transitioning away from manufacturing-based employment as a driver in the economy”. This is just further proof that the Liberal leader is an economic novice who is incapable of managing the Canadian economy.

[Public Works and Government Services, March 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the Davie shipyard, in fact, our government already has provided contracts to do important work on the Louis St. Laurent and on the Des Groseilliers icebreakers. Just recently, we announced another federal contract for the Davie shipyard in terms of extending the life of the Canadian Coast Guard ship, the Earl Grey.

Davie is welcome to bid on any and all future government opportunities. There are, indeed, billions of dollars left in the national shipbuilding procurement strategy for which it could qualify.

[Public Works and Government Services, March 23rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, we made a promise to rehabilitate the armoury, and we will keep that promise. It will take time, but we are doing our best to finish it as soon as possible.

[Ethics, March 23rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I have always believed that this project to improve access to the Markham centre for people with disabilities was valid and in the public interest.

I can assure the member that I co-operated fully for the three years that the investigation was under way.

[Ethics, March 13th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I always believed that this project to improve accessibility for handicapped people in the Markham Centre was worthy and in the public interest.

I accept the guidance provided by the commissioner to make sure that these grant programs are handled in a manner that is fair, accessible and effective for everyone involved.

[Ethics, March 13th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I always believed that this particular project to improve accessibility for handicapped people at the Markham centre was worthy and was in the public interest. I accept the guidance provided by the commissioner to make sure that these programs are handled in a manner that is fair, accessible, and equitable for everyone involved.