John Baird

[Infrastructure, October 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, this government promised to change the way Ottawa worked. We promised more accountability. People across the country felt the Liberal standard on accountability fell short.

I do note that the relationship between the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto is working quite well. I am working quite well with the Mayor of Toronto, David Miller, who just on Monday said that I was a friend of Toronto.

[Government Policies, October 17th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Wascana wants to talk about trust. When I hear the member for Wascana's name and trust it makes me think of the income trust scandal.

The real victims, because the then minister of finance would pontificate on the fly, costing pensioners, hard-working taxpayers trying to save for their retirement, literally millions of dollars. When it comes to trust, that member should apologize and that member should resign.

[Infrastructure, October 16th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the Ottawa Citizen editorial of last Saturday has a good message for my colleague opposite. It states:

Turns out there are some people who favour secrecy, who are happy to keep the taxpayer in the dark, and not surprisingly they belong to the federal Liberal party -- the same party that when in power was hardly famous for openness and transparency.

If the mayor and his Liberal friends want to stand on the side of government secrecy, that's their business. But as a political position, it's hardly a vote-winner....

[Infrastructure, October 16th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I have been reading a significant amount on this. I can tell the member opposite that we strongly support public transit. It is important for our environment. It is important for our public servants to get to work. It is also very important to reduce congestion.

I read the Ottawa Sun editorial on October 4 entitled, “Feds on right track”. It said:

Too often in the past we have seen governments, at various levels, toss around tax money without taking adequate care that it's well spent.

There was an Ottawa Citizen editorial that said:

--the unprecedented scope of the investment...makes a final, ratifying endorsement entirely appropriate.

[Points of Order, October 6th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Wascana specifically said that he had a tape of me saying that. He tabled the tape before the House. The transcript is clearly available for all members.

I beg the member Wascana to search his soul, do the honourable thing, do the classy thing, and correct the record and apologize.

[Points of Order, October 6th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, on a number of recent occasions in the House, opposition members have accused me of stating certain things, which are false.

On Thursday, September 28, the member for Oakville stated during question period, at page 3389 of the Debates:

--the President of the Treasury Board...said that helping adults...to read was a waste of money.

On Friday, September 29, the member for Halifax West stated during question period, at page 3434:

--the Treasury Board president denied in the House that he ever said that helping adults learn to read was a waste of money.

Later that same day during question period, the member for Saint Boniface stated, at page 3434 of the Debates:

--the President of the Treasury Board described adult literacy as a waste of money.

The member for Wascana then proceeded, on Thursday, October 5, to say:

I have pointed out on occasion that there is both a written record and a verbal record on tape of those remarks. I was invited during question period to table that material.

He went on to say:

I am certainly prepared to table that recording of what he said, which perfectly verifies what has been alleged here in question period.

These quotes can be found on page 3720 of the Debates.

Mr. Speaker, I categorically deny ever using the words “waste of money” to describe literacy programs.

In addition, I have had the opportunity to listen to the recording tabled by the member for Wascana. The tape is very clear that I never used the words “waste of money” whatsoever in respect to literacy programs, or any other program.

I was very clear in the House yesterday when I said:

What the member opposite alleges that I said that appears in today's Globe and Mail and aHansardppeared in on Friday, in fact I never did say and Hansard will back that up.

I was clearly making reference to the quote from the member for Oakville, which appeared in yesterday's Globe and Mail and which used the words “waste of money”.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for an apology here in the House from the members for Oakville, Halifax West, Saint Boniface and Wascana for deliberately misleading my words in an attempt to personally smear me and my reputation.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table all the relevant documents.

I know the member for Wascana to be an hon. member. The member for Wascana should stand in his place, correct the record and apologize.

[Infrastructure, October 6th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I always find it interesting to get a lesson on management and economic management from a Liberal named McGuinty. A Liberal named McGuinty is normally a synonym for broken promises.

That member opposite was part of a regime with no accountability. That Liberal member opposite was part of regime that had to repay the taxpayers a million dollars because it was stolen from hard-working taxpayers.

I do not apologize for seeking greater accountability. That is the new regime in town. We will be an accountable government. Maybe the member opposite--

[Infrastructure, October 6th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I look to Ottawa South for great wisdom. The wisdom from Ottawa South comes from a letter to the editor in today's Ottawa Sun. It states:

Mayor Chiarelli's...commented on how it is weird that the federal government would want to study the LRT document. That's business...Whether it is a personal or business deal, all information has to be disclosed before a cheque is drawn up or refused. The old boys from the old days are not in power now, sir.

That is from a constituent of Ottawa South, Ronald Hughes.

[Access to information, October 5th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. When recent allegations surfaced in the media, I immediately contacted the Privacy Commissioner. I also sent, and my deputy sent, to the public service the following note:

--it is important that all employees, including Ministers and their exempt staff, are reminded of the rules and regulations surrounding the Access to Information and Privacy Acts.

The President of the Treasury has asked...that the name of an individual who has made a request under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act is considered personal information and can only be disclosed in conformity with the Privacy Act.

[Literacy, October 5th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the first point of the comment made by the member for Wascana, I think it is a gross distortion of my comment. What the member opposite alleges that I said that appears in today's Globe and Mail and appeared in Hansard on Friday, in fact I never did say and Hansard will back that up.

If he has a tape, I would certainly welcome him tabling it in this House. If the member has a copy of the tape, he should table it. I have the quotes from the Globe and Mail that he just described. He should table that and we look forward to seeing it.