Lisa Raitt

[Minister of Natural Resources, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the one thing I have learned in the House is that just because one yells louder does not make it any more compelling an argument.

This is a serious matter. Clear procedures were not followed and corrective action has been taken. The individual responsible for handling these documents offered to resign and I accepted it.

[Minister of Natural Resources, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I am a little concerned with the language being utilized by the member opposite. He utilized the term “subservient”. The people who work for us on the Hill work very hard. Indeed, in this case, clear procedures were not followed and the individual took responsibility by offering to resign and I accepted it.

I am more concerned about the tone in which the hon. member has put this forward, indicating that perhaps only a woman could be subservient.

[Minister of Natural Resources, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this is a serious matter. Clear procedures that were set out in my office with respect to the handling of documents were not followed and, as a result, we have taken corrective action. The individual who was responsible for handling these documents has offered to resign and I accepted it.

I also offered my resignation to the Prime Minister but he did not accept it.

[Nuclear Waste, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, which is a separate organization, is carrying out the mandate of determining a willing and informed community for the purposes of nuclear waste disposal and storage in the long term.

I invite the opposite member to give that feedback to this organization and it will take it as part of its decision making for a suitable community for this project.

[Nuclear Waste, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is referring to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization which is undertaking a very long process associated with finding a willing host and informed community for the repository of nuclear waste. This is a 30-year project.

What the NWMO is doing this year is inviting public review and comment on a discussion paper and holding a series of consultations in various provinces this summer. That is the extent of the consultation.

[Minister of Natural Resources, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as we have indicated and as the member has pointed out, this is a serious matter and we have treated it as such.

The procedures in place were clearly not followed and corrective action has been taken. I have accepted the resignation of the individual who was responsible for the documents.

I also offered my resignation to the Prime Minister, if he felt it necessary, but he did not accept the resignation.

[Minister of Natural Resources, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated, we treat this as a very serious matter and it is a very serious matter. Clear procedures in my office that had been set out regarding this material were not followed and as a result corrective action has been taken.

The person who had the responsibility for the documents offered to resign and I accepted it.

[Minister of Natural Resources, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated to the House, we do take this as a serious matter. In fact, that is why corrective action was taken instantaneously, once it was discovered that the procedures were not followed.

I have offered my resignation to the Prime Minister, if he felt it necessary, but he did not accept my resignation. However, I have taken responsibility.

The person taking responsibility for handling these documents offered to resign and I accepted it.

[Minister of Natural Resources, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have indicated to the House already the steps that have taken place. We do treat it as a very serious matter. Procedures that we had in place were not followed by a member of my staff and corrective action has been taken.

As well, it is important to note that I did offer to resign to the Prime Minister and he did not accept my resignation.

[Minister of Natural Resources, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated already, this government has taken steps. We know that this is a very serious matter. The procedures were not followed and corrective action has been taken.