Paul Martin

[Sponsorship Program, April 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member were as interested in these issues as she says she is, then she would go through the budget implementation bill, where she would see the increase in the GIS for senior citizens. She would see the money that will go into the cities to deal with the problems of housing and with the problems of pollution. She would see the whole issue of climate change and how it will be dealt with.

Then, if she went through the budget implementation bill, perhaps she would then stand up in this House and say why she and her party oppose the will of Canadians.

[Sponsorship Program, April 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pick up on the citation earlier from the member for Sackville—Eastern Shore. I am very surprised at the statement just made by the hon. member. I would understand it coming from the Bloc and its cohabiting party, the Conservatives, that are only focusing on one thing.

This morning we had a very important meeting with a group of doctors in terms of the establishment of national benchmarks and accountability in terms of the health care deal. I am quite disappointed that the NDP, which poses as the defender of the smaller person and of medicare, did not stand up and want to talk about accountability--

[Sponsorship Program, April 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, there is a reason why we need to let Justice Gomery make his report. What the hon. member is saying is nothing but allegations, unfounded allegations, incomprehensible ones to boot.

Lucie Castelli sold tickets to the Liberal Party fundraising dinner in Montreal. What is she being accused of? This is exactly why we need to let Justice Gomery make his report, instead of listening to crazy statements like these.

[Sponsorship Program, April 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, every year, the Liberal Party organized a major dinner event, selling tickets to raise money. All parties did so at that time. Lucie Castelli was there to sell tickets—to my supporters, obviously. That is what she was there for, to sell tickets.

[Sponsorship Program, April 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I have already answered this question. The Liberal Party is certainly prepared to repay all funds received inappropriately.

The leader of the NDP is talking about the situation in Canada. If we look closely, we see our government's initiative with regard to the national child benefit. If we look at the most recent budget, we see that we have again increased the guaranteed income supplement; that we want to move forward with the national child care program for young children; that we have reinforced social programs; and that we want to introduce new programs. This is what the Liberal government is doing.

[Sponsorship Program, April 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about thousands and thousands of Liberal supporters throughout Canada; let us talk about supporters working in Quebec who are dedicated to their country and their party; let us talk about the presidents of the provincial and riding associations; let us talk about dedicated, honest individuals, people of integrity, who supported the government when it established the Gomery commission to find the answer to this situation.

[Sponsorship Program, April 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is asking the same question again. My reply is therefore the same.

I would simply like to ask the leader of the Bloc what he thinks of the remarks of Bernard Landry, who called Mr. Brault's testimony before the Gomery commission into question, and I quote, “I understand that he—Jean Brault—does everything he does in order to wiggle out of it”. So he is not exactly the most credible person in this regard.

[Sponsorship Program, April 11th, 2005]

I have already answered this question any number of times. The Liberal Party has said from the start that it would reimburse any money it received inappropriately. We said that at the outset, and I repeat it again today.

[Sponsorship Program, April 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, first, the answer is no, I did not know that.

Second, we are the ones—the Liberal Party, the Canadian government—who established the Gomery commission, precisely because we wanted to get answers.

If one looks at all the measures taken, one can see that we are the ones who cancelled the sponsorship program; we are the ones who fired the chairs of crown corporations who were at fault; we are the ones who recalled Canada's ambassador to Denmark; we are the ones who initiated proceedings against the 19 companies; and we are the ones who will get the answers and settle the issue.

[Sponsorship Program, April 11th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, let us simply take a look at what the government has done.

The fact is that we are the government that cancelled the sponsorship program. We are the government that fired the heads of a number of crown corporations. We are the government that recalled the ambassador to Denmark. We are the government that has set out a number of lawsuits against 19 companies. We are the government that put the Gomery commission in place in order to find the answers that Canadians want to hear.