John Cannis

[Points Of Order, April 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, there was a question asked of me during question period by a member of the Alliance. In my response to whether Mr. Jonas Prince had received any funding, I responded that to my knowledge he had not.

I want to clarify for the record that Industry Canada, in its preliminary look, indicated that no funding was given to Mr. Jonas Prince.

[Gasoline Pricing, April 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the confusion is from the Bloc Quebecois. The Competition Act, when evidence is brought forward, acts accordingly.

A year ago there were record fines, but when it comes to gasoline pricing the member should talk to Mr. Landry. They did control the price of gasoline before. They can do it again should they wish to.

[Business Development Bank Of Canada, April 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, let me first point out to the hon. member that the BDC and the EDC operate at arm's length from the federal government. As such I am not privy and nobody is privy to this confidential information that cannot be provided according to subsection 37(1) of the BDC.

Also, the EDC falls under the same guidelines. Upon a preliminary look, any indication of any funding being provided has not been found.

[Industry Canada, April 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, let me stress again that nothing was bypassed. Every opportunity was taken to make sure things were done and done properly.

The member is failing to understand, and I say it again, that this program has made Canada stand a cut above the rest with our connecting Canadians program permitting people in remote parts of our country to have access, not just to other Canadians but to the entire world.

[Industry Canada, April 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, there was no process that was bypassed. It is the same audit that we looked at.

Let me point this out for the member. He knows very well from committee that access.ca first of all is a program that benefits Canadians, especially Canadians in remote areas. It has made our country stand a cut above the rest.

When these audits came forward a way back, the department took immediate action to address them, and the hon. member knows that.

[Supply, April 3rd, 2001]

Madam Speaker, this request is based on credibility. I will provide two quotes quickly.

Here is what the hon. member said on February 7. The leader of the Conservative Party admitted to the press that he had absolutely no proof of wrongdoing, telling the journalists “Let's leave it that I am fishing at this stage”.

Then at the end of February after the RCMP inquiry, he went on to say:

The RCMP appears to have decided that (there was no criminal wrongdoing) and I accept their decision on the basis of the facts that are known now.

Is he saying that the RCMP has no credibility and did he lobby for his brother?

[Supply, April 3rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I have a quick comment. The hon. member talks about democracy. Democracy is ruled by rules. I was appalled because for one moment I thought the New Democratic Party had chosen not to engage in this McCarthyistic inquiry.

Let me quote what the member of the NDP said the other day when she was being recruited by the leader of the Conservative Party. She said that she chose not to engage. She wanted the House to get on to running the affairs of the nation.

The RCMP and the ethics counsellor have cleared the Prime Minister. The hon. member for Regina—Qu'Appelle was answered not once but three times. When does this end?

[Financial Consumer Agency Of Canada Act, March 30th, 2001]

He should represent the people, the facts.

[Financial Consumer Agency Of Canada Act, March 30th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. As we are trying to get a parallel it is only fair that we clarify. We all have a tendency to stand in caucus and say things.

The member earlier referred to certain commitments that were made. I will quote for the record what the Liberal government said, because the member was a bit misleading.

[Industry, March 16th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the government is not spending money. The government is investing money. It is investing in the new economy and that is why Canada is leading the pack. That is why we are attracting the best and the brightest for the new economy of tomorrow.