House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
Sponsorship Program October 26th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, yesterday we were amazed to learn from the Gomery commission that the Liberal government, via the Canada Information Office, had paid $600,000 from Canadian unity funding for the design of a logo that has now disappeared without a trace.
How can we explain to the public watching that the government has paid $600,000 for a non-existent logo? Is this not just a repeat of those three Groupaction reports that were never produced yet cost the government $500,000 apiece?
Sponsorship Program October 21st, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister claims not to have been in the loop. He was Minister of Finance, yet he knew nothing. He was vice-president of the Treasury Board, yet he knew nothing. He is the member for LaSalle—Émard, and his executive assistant was phoning Gagliano's office, yet he knew nothing. I wonder if perhaps he did not even know that he knew Serge Savard. We ought to ask the Minister of Social Development, because he does know Serge Savard.
In a more serious vein, I am asking the Prime Minister whether he is in fact giving us the right answers. Did he know about the sponsorship program?
Sponsorship Program October 21st, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the Gomery commission has brought to light the existence of a memo dating back to June 1999 from Michael Calcott, the former director general of Communications at the Treasury Board Secretariat. Even then he was complaining about mismanagement and waste in the sponsorship program, and saying that it could not go on that way. Yet the office of the present Prime Minister intervened directly.
How does the Prime Minister explain that he did not have access to this important information as either the Minister of Finance or the vice-president of the Treasury Board? That is unthinkable.
Sponsorship Program October 20th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the investigation carried out in 2000 revealed, after the fact, that certain ministers intervened in the sponsorship program.
I ask the Prime Minister, which ministers?
Sponsorship Program October 20th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's defence that it is up to the Gomery commission to receive the testimony relating to the sponsorship scandal collapsed yesterday. Although the PM has been questioned five times in this House, after yesterday's oral question period someone from his office revealed to the press the identity of the individual in his office who called Gagliano's office.
Since the Prime Minister himself admitted during the election campaign that there was indeed political involvement in the sponsorship program, I ask again, who was behind that political involvement in the sponsorship program?
Ways and Means October 18th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, members of the Bloc Quebecois will be voting in favour of this motion.
Canada Shipping Act October 18th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, members of the Bloc Québécois will be voting in favour of this motion.
Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act October 18th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, members of the Bloc Québécois will be voting in favour of this motion.
La Terre de chez nous October 18th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw attention to the 75th anniversary of the farm weekly La terre de chez nous , which has a circulation of over 100,000. This publication dedicated to the rural cause was founded in 1929, and for a long time was the only publication delivered to rural Quebec. Over the years, this indispensable and popular weekly has become the preferred source of information for people in the agricultural and forestry sectors of Quebec, who find in its pages shared concerns, aspirations and expertise.
The impact of this publication on Quebec agriculture is concrete evidence of its importance, and now it has its own web site as well. This new tool, which is updated daily, provides Quebeckers with a host of useful information on current events and issues that shape agriculture.
My congratulations to all those who have had a hand in its success, and my wishes for a long life to both La terre de chez nous and its target sectors, agriculture and forestry.
Sponsorship Program October 13th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, on the one hand, we have the Prime Minister, who is going around in high dudgeon, and, on the other hand, Justice Gomery, who is not scheduled to release his report until December 2005. Is all this not starting to look a lot like Jean Chrétien's attitude about the Business Development Bank in the Auberge Grand-Mère issue?