—and gave the facts. This is a lack of respect for this institution. We are here to answer for the actions of the government. That is how the system works. But because we are giving them answers, they want to continue with their fishing expeditions.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Government Contracts May 22nd, 2002
—and gave the facts. This is a lack of respect for this institution. We are here to answer for the actions of the government. That is how the system works. But because we are giving them answers, they want to continue with their fishing expeditions.
Government Contracts May 22nd, 2002
Mr. Speaker, we have the House of Commons, which is the most public place in Canada, where the minister rose in his place—
Government Contracts May 22nd, 2002
Mr. Speaker, he has just read an affidavit signed by the priest in question, who said that he had received a cheque endorsed by the person who had received it a few days earlier.
I think that, as we go through life, we should be a bit reasonable. When the minister in question says that he paid $800, $400 a night, that he paid immediately to occupy a house, and that he spent the full amount, I do not see anything illegal and immoral in that.
Furthermore, he said, “Perhaps, looking back, I should not have gone there”. But in actual fact, he paid the full cost of the stay.
Government Contracts May 22nd, 2002
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that, in Quebec, there are many more Liberal supporters than Canadian Alliance supporters.
If the Canadian Alliance wants to make accusations, I will simply repeat that the auditor general is reviewing the matter. We asked her to look at these files. She will report on her findings.
If administrative mistakes were made, they will be corrected. If money was paid for nothing, it will have to be refunded. If some people stole money, they will have to face the courts.
Government Contracts May 22nd, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I have said that there are hundreds of access to information requests and we comply with them all the time. That is the process. I do not have the list here in front of me. However if there is an application for these contracts it should be done.
We have a program and, I want to repeat, the auditor general is looking into that. If there was some wrong in the administration of the program and people received money they should not have received they will be obliged to pay it back. If some of them acted in a fashion that was against the law they will have to face the courts.
Government Contracts May 22nd, 2002
Mr. Speaker, there is legislation called access to information. If someone applies under that legislation, according to the law the department is obliged to give the information requested.
Government Appointments May 21st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, there is documentation on that. The member of parliament knows very well that the auditor general never blamed Mr. Gagliano for anything. She was very clear. She made a distinction. She talked about some people in the public service. She never named a minister or the staff of any minister. She named two bureaucrats.
These comments are innuendos. They are dirt. This is absolutely unacceptable to the people who have been elected and who have to respect each other.
Government Appointments May 21st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I find this very incredulous. There have been no accusations, just innuendoes and members trying to throw dirt like that. As the saying goes “When you throw dirt you lose ground”. That is what is happening to the Alliance Party.
Government Contracts May 21st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, there was a contract that was won by a firm 30% below the other bidders. He got the contract from the government of Mali. He did some work for it. There is some discussion at this time between the contractor and the Mali government about extra work that was asked of them. That dispute is going on between the authorities at this time.
Everything is above board and it is about somebody who won a contract 30% below the second bidder.
Government Contracts May 21st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I said that the auditor general, at the request of the minister, is looking into the sponsorship program. She will report when her work is done. If there are some questions to be asked of crown corporations, we will ask the crown corporations.
The leader of the Conservative Party can communicate with these organizations and ask them for the documentation that they could give to him.
We have nothing to hide. We want all the facts to be known by the public.