Paul Martin

[Auditor General's Report, February 11th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General has made it very clear that it was a small group of people within Public Works who broke the law and got around the rules.

That said, they did not ask our permission to do so. They did what they did under cover, but eventually there were some rumours. There was an internal investigation; once its findings were provided to the Auditor General, she carried out her investigation, and the government took action. We took action as soon as the Auditor General produced her report.

[Auditor General's Report, February 11th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, there was a very sophisticated cover-up that was taken on by this small group who did this. Those people were not going to come to the government and say that they were breaking every rule in the book. What they did do was, for a couple of years, basically put this by; however, as soon as the rumours began there was an internal study done.

When that internal study was done, it was turned over to the Auditor General who then completed her report. The former minister of public works acted. We acted on December 12 and we have now brought down the most comprehensive response that any government--

[Auditor General's Report, February 11th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General stated that these acts were perpetrated by a very small group of people among the 14,000 people who work for public works. She stated that they operated without surveillance. She also stated that they broke laws.

When they broke those laws and rules, they did not come to cabinet and ask to break those rules. What they did was engage in a very sophisticated way of camouflaging what they were doing. As a result of that, the government did not know.

There were rumours and those rumours eventually came out. That is when there was an internal inquiry--

[Auditor General's Report, February 11th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, there is no need for the Leader of the Opposition to make allegations of a nature which are vicious in the extreme.

If the Leader of the Opposition would like to make those allegations to the inquiry he may do so. We have made it very clear that the government will ensure that every single piece of information and every fact on this matter are made public as quickly as possible.

[Auditor General's Report, February 11th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General said that she could only go so far. At that point, the government had to take a look at ways in which the investigation could be completed.

One way was the public accounts committee. We wanted to ensure that there was no stone unturned, and that is why we asked for a commission of inquiry.

[Auditor General's Report, February 11th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I made it very clear yesterday that there will be no limits in terms of the investigation that the commissioner will be able to engage in. He will be given every instrument required to do his job. The fact is that the government wants to get to the bottom of it and the government will.

[Government Contracts, February 10th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I made it very clear on becoming Prime Minister that Canadian troops would not be asked to serve abroad or in fact serve in this country unless they were provided with the finest of equipment and that we would protect our military personnel. I stand behind that.

I am very proud to be the Prime Minister who authorized the acquisition of a new helicopter.

[Government Contracts, February 10th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it has come to my knowledge that the normal cabinet processes for the approval of this purchase were not followed.

In fact, the decision was made outside of those processes and I found out, as did a number of others, that the decision to buy had been made outside of the normal process at the end of the year.

[Auditor General's Report, February 10th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, there were certain sums of money allocated for a program. That program was one with very clear, very well targeted, and very public objectives.

The problem is that the rules were not followed. That is the main thrust of the Auditor General's report, and where the problem lies.

As soon as the government became aware of this, the former minister of public works took action. And as soon as we took over, on December 12, we took action by cancelling the sponsorship program, followed today by submitting to the Canadian public a comprehensive plan of action.

[Auditor General's Report, February 10th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, a hastily called conference? Let us take a look at it.

Within five minutes of the Auditor General's report being tabled in the House, the government acted. That is not hasty. That is decisive action by a government which is determined to get to the bottom of this and is going to do it.