House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 56% of the vote.
Sponsorship Program April 14th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, Serge Savard, who was a million dollar fundraiser for the Prime Minister, received $500,000 in sponsorship cash due to the assistance he received from Lucie Castelli, one of the Prime Minister's chief organizers in his riding. These are facts.
How can the Prime Minister still claim that he knew nothing about sponsorship and actually expect Canadians to believe him?
Sponsorship Program April 14th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister did not answer my question, and I think that it is important he do so.
When the sponsorship scandal was in its heyday, Lucie Castelli, known as the Prime Minister's eyes and ears in his riding, sat on the Quebec Liberal Party's finance commission with Alain Renaud and Jacques Corriveau, who allegedly obtained almost $500,000 from Groupaction and the sponsorship program without doing the work.
How are Canadians to believe the Prime Minister's statement that he knew nothing?
Sponsorship Program April 13th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I think they are scraping close to the bottom of the barrel when they are relying on somebody who has quit the party to defend them and the scandal that the government is involved in. That is pretty pathetic.
Last year we learned that Castelli sought and obtained $500,000 in sponsorship cash on behalf of Serge Savard, the Prime Minister's million dollar fundraiser. Castelli assisted Serge Savard in getting sponsorship cash.
How can the Prime Minister still claim that he knew nothing about ad scam when his chief organizer was involved in getting cash for his million dollar fundraiser?
Sponsorship Program April 13th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, when the sponsorship scandal was in its heyday, Lucie Castelli, known as the Prime Minister's eyes and ears in his riding, sat on the Quebec Liberal Party's finance commission with Alain Renaud and Jacques Corriveau, who allegedly obtained almost $500,000 from Groupaction and the sponsorship program without doing the work.
How are Canadians to believe the Prime Minister's statement that he knew nothing?
Sponsorship Program April 13th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, this is one of the most pathetic performances by a Prime Minister I have ever seen. It is no wonder David Kilgour ran away from his party.
Sponsorship Program April 12th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, it is the Prime Minister who has said that he has the moral responsibility to clean up this mess, yet he has that minister answering questions. This scandal is worse than Watergate and the Prime Minister has an obligation to answer these questions.
Perhaps I will get an answer if I ask in French.
Will the Prime Minister admit that he dined with Claude Boulay and that they discussed contracts? Will he admit that?
Sponsorship Program April 12th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister claimed in sworn testimony that he had no relationship with sponsorship kingpin Claude Boulay, that he barely knew him, that he had no contact beyond a casual hello. Yet we learned yesterday that the Prime Minister discussed contracts with Boulay over lunch at a Liberal convention.
Will the Prime Minister now admit that he met with Claude Boulay to discuss contracts?
Terry Fox April 12th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago today, Port Coquitlam's Terry Fox began his inspirational journey to fight cancer. On April 12, 1980 Terry dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean and began his Marathon of Hope.
He ran 26 miles a day, seven days a week, through the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario. It was a journey Canadians will never forget.
On September 1, 1980, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres, Terry was forced to stop running outside of Thunder Bay because cancer appeared in his lungs. An entire nation was stunned and saddened. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981. He was only 22.
Cancer research and treatment has come a long way since 1981, in part because of the courage of Terry Fox. Some $360 million has been raised worldwide in Terry's name to fight cancer, and he inspired millions.
When he died, Terry Fox said, “Even if I don't finish, we need others to continue. It's got to keep going without me”. That is our challenge. Let us never give up doing all we can to fight cancer. It is the only way to truly honour Terry's legend, courage and memory.
Sponsorship Program April 11th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, this is clear as mud. My question is clear and simple and is for the Prime Minister.
Does he approve the despicable actions of the member for Brome—Missisquoi, who forced Jean Brault to hire the individual who, until very recently, was the chief of staff of the Minister of Canadian Heritage? Yes or no?
Sponsorship Program April 11th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's Office interviewed and hired all ministerial chiefs of staff including John Welch, chief of staff to the heritage minister. Mr. Welch was recently suspended with pay for taking $80,000 in sponsorship kickbacks from Jean Brault. Scott Reid, the Prime Minister's chief of communications, referred to his boss as the “wire brush that will scrub clean this stain on Canadian politics”.
When the Prime Minister's Office interviewed Mr. Welch for the top job, did the wire brush demand that Mr. Welch come clean regarding his ad scam involvement or did he simply hold his nose and flush?