Peter MacKay

[Human Resources Development, June 5th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I hope Canadians are watching this spectacle because she has refused to answer a straightforward question. She professes to have respect for the Canadian people, but it is only after an access to information request and she is dragged kicking and screaming to the altar of truth that she comes up with an answer.

[Human Resources Development, June 5th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is obviously trying very hard to distract and deflect. We are not talking about simple briefings. We are not talking about the mismanagement of millions of dollars. We are not talking about the entire audit.

I want to ask the minister a very straightforward question, a question that has been asked before. Is she telling Canadians that she had no knowledge, none, of the problems in her department prior to the date of November 17 which she stated in the House?

[Human Resources Development, June 5th, 2000]

It is down to a matter of trust. Does the minister believe that Canadians should trust her answer, given what has transpired in her department on her watch?

[Human Resources Development, June 5th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, given the spinning, the nuancing and the attempts that have been made to backdate this, it is clearly impossible that the minister's office would not have kept such politically explosive information from her.

It is equally impossible to believe that someone did not tell the minister at least verbally that there was a serious problem within that department. Does the minister feel that Canadians can be misled and fooled into believing that she did not know this problem—

[Human Resources Development, June 5th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the recent disclosure by a staff member in the office of the Minister of Human Resources Development indicates that the problems in her department were known as early as October 20, and many would suggest earlier. On February 9 I asked the minister to inform Canadians on exactly what date she was first made aware of the problems.

Given today's disclosure, does she stand by her earlier answer that she was not aware of those problems until November 17?

[Justice, May 31st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, while we know the Minister of Justice cannot comment on the specifics of the extradition case involving Karlheinz Schreiber or the million dollar slander case that has been launched by him against her government, could she assure the House none of the irregularities that existed in the first instance, which forced the government to settle out of court in an embarrassing way, exist this time around?

Does she honestly feel that the actions of her department are in full compliance with Canadian and international law?

[Human Resources Development, May 31st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians do not think it will work. In her usual dismissive fashion the minister is trying to minimize this problem by refusing to take responsibility for her leaky, freaky department.

Good government should be protecting the privacy of Canadian citizens. Anyone with Internet should not be able to gain access to the most personal of information about other Canadians or themselves. Canadians have lost confidence in this minister.

In light of yet another embarrassing incident in her department, will the minister try to restore the faith of Canadians in their own privacy protection and do the right thing? Will she take their files off the Internet and herself out of cabinet?

[Human Resources Development, May 31st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, with the scrapping of the department's big brother computer access files, the minister of HRDC supposedly guaranteed Canadians that their privacy would be protected. Fat chance.

The dismissive attitude of the minister is incredible. How could the minister first defend, then dismantle, then delude Canadians into thinking that big brother exists no more?

Anyone including employers, co-workers or business competitors with Internet access can retrieve sensitive personal information on Canadians citizens. How could she let that happen?

[Supply, May 30th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the hon. member for Souris—Moose Mountain. He has given us a very passionate and common sense view of this issue. That is what is sometimes absent from the debates. He hit the nail on the head when he said that this is a straightforward issue, one of practicalities and one of priorities. When it comes to an issue such as this one, much like health care, one of the fundamentals has to be that the funding must be there at such a level and standard that the objectives can be achieved.

The hon. member brings that same common sense approach to the committee, as does the member from Cumberland—Colchester, the mover of the motion. They call upon the government in a very straightforward and principled way to address the issue at the very least by restoring funding to a level that will allow the fundamental aspects of transportation to be achieved. Whether it be a national highways program, whether it be a return to some sort of fundamental approach to shipping, or shipbuilding, all of this has to be given at least a base level of support from the government in terms of resources.

This issue is analogous to health care. The pivotal point in the history of the country when deterioration started, whether it be in health care or our national transportation system, was when the government changed in 1993. I do not want to come across as being too partisan, but I ask him to be honest. This is a question of truth and reconciliation. Is it not fair to say that when the government changed in 1993 and the funding was withdrawn, whether it be from health care, social transfers, or transportation, that was the point in our country's history when our transportation policy deteriorated, our roads deteriorated, and the shipbuilding policy started to come apart at the seams? Will the hon. member acknowledge that under a Conservative government things were better?

[The Late Maurice Richard, May 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Right Hon. Joe Clark and all members of the Progressive Conservative Party, I would like to express our sadness over the passing of Maurice “The Rocket” Richard.

The Progressive Conservative Party wishes to offer its sincere condolences to the whole Richard family.

Born on August 4, 1921 and throughout his 78 glorious years, Maurice Richard was a symbol of excellence and a source of inspiration for many generations of Quebecois and Canadians. The Rocket will go down in history as more than a hockey legend. He was truly a great Canadian whose on ice skills inspired a generation of hockey fans.

Although he was not deemed the most physically gifted athlete, it was his will to win that set him apart from all others. His sheer force of will was something to behold.

Nicknamed “The Rocket” for his blazing speed and hard shot, Richard developed a reputation as an electrifying player from the blue line in. Wearing the number 9 jersey the Rocket dominated the NHL for 18 magnificent years as the centrepiece of professional sports' most successful franchise. His storied career stats combining regular season and playoff goals include 626 goals, 465 assists and 1,091 total points. He was also the first player, as mentioned, to score 50 goals in 50 games in the 1944-45 season, a feat not duplicated until the 1980s.

But it was his performance in clutch situations and his ability to respond in the big games that really distinguished him from those who have played the game of hockey. During his stellar career Richard led the Montreal Canadiens to eight Stanley Cups, including five in a row between 1956 and 1960.

After his career his popularity and legend grew. He continued to be one of the most recognized and beloved figures in Canada. As his health began to decline, the NHL recognized his contributions to the game by creating the Rocket Richard trophy given annually to the league's top scorer, a fitting tribute.

Maurice Richard died on Saturday, losing a ferocious battle against abdominal cancer. His body will lie in state at the Molson Centre on Tuesday, and a state funeral will be held on Wednesday at Notre-Dame Basilica.

There has been an outpouring of public sympathy and condolences from across the country for Maurice “The Rocket” Richard. He transcended the game. Canadians consider themselves honoured to lay claim to the man affectionately known as “The Rocket”, a great hockey player, a great ambassador for the game and country. Canada and the Richard family have lost a true national treasure. Au revoir, Rocket.