House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Sponsorship Program March 29th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I have given no instructions to the members of the committee. The committee is master of its own future.
The question is quite simple. If the committee wants to see Mr. Alfonso Gagliano again, all it has to do is call him before the committee.
Sponsorship Program March 25th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, on numerous occasions the minister has stood in the House and has responded to the questions asked of him.
At the same time, the Minister of Public Works has stood in the House and has responded.
The fact is that this government, in an open and transparent way, has put in place the commission of inquiry and has asked to have the parliamentary committee accelerated. We have said that ministers are quite prepared to appear and respond to questions in front of the committee.
The fact is that we will get to the bottom of it. I just wish they would quit stalling in committee.
Sponsorship Program March 25th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, it is a common practice in governments, federal and provincial, to have reserves for contingencies, unexpected or otherwise. The fact is that the reserve in this particular case was used for exactly the reasons that the hon. member has just said or equally laudable objectives, such as the Terry Fox Centre.
The fact is that these are public moneys spent publicly. They are fully registered in the estimates in the books of account.
Sponsorship Program March 25th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the reason that the government asked the opposition to accelerate the hearings of the parliamentary committee, the reason that we asked Judge Gomery to take on the inquiry, the reason that we set up Mr. Gauthier, was to get to the bottom of this.
We appreciate very much the fact that Ms. Tremblay appeared this morning and we want other people to come forward because we do want to get to the bottom of this. We want to find out exactly what happened and we want those who did it to be punished.
The Environment March 25th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, former Deputy Prime Minister Gray had responsibility, assumed that responsibility fully, went to Berlin and signed the mandate. He had our support.
The Environment March 25th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I recall the discussion quite well, and also the fact that Mr. Gray went to Berlin and had the support of all ministers.
Sponsorship Program March 25th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the fact is that the statement just made by the hon. member is false.
Sponsorship Program March 25th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing secret about this. There are a number of funds. If one looks at the government accounting procedures, whether it is a Liberal government, a Conservative government or a provincial government, there are funds set aside. Everyone knows that and it is public knowledge.
Sponsorship Program March 25th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing secret. All of these moneys were expensed in the public accounts and in fact reserves were set up. Reserves were set up under the Tories and Liberal government.
The problem is that the opposition members are so full of innuendo and slander that they fail to understand what is a normal accounting procedure used by the Conservatives and the Liberals.
Sponsorship Program March 25th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, the unity fund began in 1992. It was started under the previous Conservative government.
At the same time, the 1995 budget was the budget that ultimately led to the elimination of the Tory deficit.