Peter Goldring

[National Defence, November 26th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals first began the process to replace the Sea Kings in 1976. Exhibiting lightning Liberal speed, they are still at the review stage 30 years later.

Our frigates, designed to have new state of the art helicopters, will be more than half way through their own lifespan by the time delivery occurs.

The government does not have a plan B. The boat ballast Sea Kings will have to make do until the government gets its act together.

Will the minister admit that the Sea Kings could be still flying for Canada in 2015?

[National Defence, November 26th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, our navy is serving on the front line of the war against terrorism in the Arabian Sea with ancient relics on the decks of modern frigates.

In temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius, a fully mission-loaded Sea King will not lift off the deck of a stationary ship. It is basic boat ballast.

The snoring Liberals must wake up and end this 30 year procurement nightmare.

Is the defence minister still insisting that new replacements will arrive by the 2005 date he told us last year?

[Immigration, November 8th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the public works minister said he was not aware that his special adviser, Mr. Creuso, was a criminal in Italy before coming to Canada.

Canadians want to know why convicted criminals can pose as business people and ministerial advisers and have unrestricted access to foreign leaders because of lax Canadian security.

[Immigration, November 8th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, we know that Mr. Creuso, a disgraced Italian senator, has been investigated for corruption, sentenced to jail and skipped out on his fine, and then he emigrated to Canada, the land of new golden opportunity.

Mr. Creuso, a convicted felon, was rewarded with a Canadian citizenship and a $60,000 a year government contract.

Canadians would like to know if Mr. Creuso is under investigation to have his citizenship revoked for false declarations, and if not, why not?

[Public Works, November 7th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the minister took Mr. Creuso on an official government trip to Europe. Two government agencies under the minister's responsibility awarded him contracts. Now the minister wants to distance himself from Mr. Creuso.

Will the minister inform the House whether Mr. Creuso is still employed or still in receipt of Canadian government contracts? Is he still on the payroll?

[Public Works, November 7th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, this latest contract scandal involving the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and a criminal friend is not the first time that he has seen negative headlines across the country.

I will quote from a few which said: “Minister’s crony gets contract”; “Minister under ethics probe”; “Minister's pal gets big-bucks contracts”; and “contract awarded to shady friend”.

We have had all this and much more in only two short years. With this latest scandal involving the minister, how can Canadians have confidence in him?

[Immigration, November 6th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the minister of public works, while representing Canada, was travelling abroad with a known felon as an adviser. That is not a comforting thought, is it?

It certainly adds a new meaning to the expression “Canadian representative at large”.

How could the minister not know Mr. Creuso had a felonious past? Why did the minister's staff or immigration not inform the minister of his rap sheet?

[Immigration, November 6th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Creuso, the minister's adviser, is a disgraced Italian politician who has been investigated for corruption, sentenced to jail, skipped out on his fine and immigrated to Canada.

Canadians would like to know how Mr. Creuso, with a sterling resumé like that, would ever qualify for Canadian citizenship and a Canadian government job.

[Public Works, November 5th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps our ministers should be more involved in crown corporations to have some input into them. Canadians need to be assured that Canadian crown corporation hiring and contracting policies are fair for all, not just for making exceptions for some.

Fraud, corruption and jail time are not desirable employee or contractor qualities for any job. Surely these qualities cannot be those the minister looks for in his special advisers.

What went wrong? Why was Mr. Creuso hired?

[Public Works, November 5th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Creuso, a former Italian senator, has a criminal past. He was investigated for corruption, sentenced to jail and failed to pay his plea bargain settlement. Mr. Creuso was convicted for corruption while managing construction jobs in Italy.

Why would we ever give him CMHC government construction jobs to manage in Canada? Why?