Helena Guergis

[Citizenship and Immigration, December 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration told us that the stripper program did not exist. The Prime Minister told us that it did exist but it was under review. The minister told us that it really was not about strippers after all.

The facts are this program does exist. It is degrading, insulting and it exploits women.

Why are women in such vulnerable positions being told that they should submit a nude photo of themselves in order to be accepted into the country?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, my question is really very simple. I would appreciate it if the minister would stop dancing around the subject. Why are legitimate claimants left waiting in line while the minister allows queue jumping under a program that she says she does not support?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the immigration minister says on one hand that the stripper program is necessary to protect women, yet on the other hand she says the program is exploiting women and should be stopped. Which is it? Can she please explain her hypocrisy?

[Banting Homestead, November 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's first Nobel Prize winner, Sir Frederick Banting, the discoverer of insulin, was born on a farm located in New Tecumseth in my riding of Simcoe--Grey. Thanks to his discovery, today diabetics worldwide enjoy a normal quality of life.

Edward Banting left the property to the Ontario Historical Society to maintain, preserve and protect as a place of historical significance. Instead, the OHS has allowed the buildings to deteriorate. The roof of the farmhouse leaks and the house is not insured.

I held a press conference at the homestead on October 29 and offered to work with the OHS to preserve this historic site. OHS lawyers responded by threatening to charge all those present with trespassing.

There are rumours that the OHS plans to sell off the land to a developer. I have requested a meeting with the Minister of Canadian Heritage to save this historic landmark. I look forward to her timely response.

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 23rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is dodging this like the Prime Minister, but unfortunately for her, she has to stay in town.

We have also learned that an unauthorized person in the minister's election office discussed personal and confidential information with ministry staff, which is also a clear violation of privacy laws.

The minister keeps striking out, stiffing taxpayers with campaign expenses, leaking confidential information and allowing unauthorized individuals to handle personal and confidential information. When will the minister do the honourable thing and step down?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 23rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is breaking Canada's privacy laws. The minister's office leaked personal and confidential information about an individual without the written consent of the individual.

This is disgraceful and a gross violation of privacy rights. Can the minister tell us when she will do the honourable thing and step down?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 22nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the minister can tell us exactly which Treasury Board guidelines say government staffers can bill taxpayers for their campaign expenses.

When one of her staff takes leave during the campaign but then continues to direct the ministry, that is wrong. When her director of parliamentary affairs submits claims for $5,900 for working on her campaign, that is wrong.

In light of her ethical lapses, will the minister step aside?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 22nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is caught in a web of her own making.

From May 21 to June 29, staff members claimed more than $11,000 in travel expenses. Her staff claimed these expenses for work done in her riding during the campaign. This is wrong. The minister just does not get it and she clearly does not care. Now, taxpayers are on the hook for thousands of dollars that essentially funded her campaign.

When will the minister do the honourable thing and step aside?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 17th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's director of parliamentary affairs worked in the riding from May 28 to June 28 and charged approximately $1,200 for transportation, over $2,400 for accommodations, and almost $2,300 for meals and incidentals. A total of almost $5,900 was charged to the taxpayers by one staff person.

Can the minister guarantee to the House that her staff did absolutely no political work during the campaign?

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 17th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked the immigration minister about her employees' expenses during the election and she avoided my question, so I will ask her again.

Three of the minister's staff claimed expenses to be in her riding during the election period. One claimed expenses for a month as her ministerial liaison officer during the election. In fact, from May 21 to June 29, staff members claimed more than $11,000 in travel expenses.

Can the minister assure us that her tax funded staff did not work on her campaign at all?