Lee Richardson

[Canadian Heritage, October 14th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, last week again, the heritage minister, no doubt in the interests of transparency, told us that her predecessor had to take a $55,000 government jet to Banff to give a campaign speech because “she flew in and out”.

New information has revealed that the minister misled the House. It turns out that Hélène Scherrer filed an accommodation expense to stay overnight in Banff. It seems she was not in such a big hurry after all.

Why did the minister mislead the House about the infamous Challenger flight and why did her predecessor not save taxpayers $50,000 by flying commercial to give her campaign speech?

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, October 8th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, we have just heard a remarkable speech in the House today. These are things that we have been hearing about for a long time. The member for Calgary Centre-North just went through a litany of broken Liberal promises, which really had to move everyone in the House.

I am not familiar with all the issues of which the member spoke, but it seems to me that these are things that we have heard time and time again. We have heard solutions proposed for the past 10 years in the House. What is the reason for the delay? Why can they not carry on with these issues?

I know the hon. member is an acknowledged expert in the country on aboriginal issues, particularly aboriginal self-government. What is the delay? Why can we not get on with these things?

[Canadian Heritage, October 8th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the question was not about whether or not it was an important event. Of course the Banff festival is an important event.

The question was about her flying out on a government jet. I understand that she is too professional to fly commercial with the rest of us and she would rather the splendid isolation of a luxury government jet at the cost of $50,000 as compared to a commercial flight for $354. That was the question.

[Canadian Heritage, October 8th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, too professional--

[Canadian Heritage, October 8th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the heritage minister waved an invitation accepted by her predecessor on January 7 to speak at the Banff television festival on June 13. She flew out on a government jet. With five months in advance of the event, would the Prime Minister's aide not have had plenty of time to book a commercial flight?

Can the government tell us why the Prime Minister's top aide spent $50,000 of taxpayers' money when a $354 WestJet ticket could have got her there just fine?