House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2008, with 39% of the vote.
Order In Council Appointments November 3rd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, a number of order in council appointments which were made by the government.
Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 110(1), these are deemed referred to the appropriate standing committees, a list of which is attached.
Canadian Wheat Board Act November 3rd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I could not hear your question; I wonder if you could go back to it. Did you ask when shall the bill be read a third time, and what was the answer?
I ask that with consent it be later this day. I did not hear you ask the question because of the noise. I think you would find consent of the House to have the third reading of the bill later this day.
Motion For Papers November 2nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I ask that the notice of motion for the production of papers be allowed to stand.
Questions On The Order Paper November 2nd, 1994
I ask, Mr. Speaker, that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.
Questions On The Order Paper November 2nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, Question No. 71 will be answered today.
Question No. 71-
Government Response To Petitions November 2nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), the government's response to two petitions.
Recognition Of The Patriotes Of Lower Canada And The Reformers Of Upper Canada November 1st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised that the hon. member for Kindersley-Lloydminister would use expressions such as scandal and so on to describe the situation that has occurred.
He knows perfectly well that his comments are inappropriate and grossly exaggerated. But of course he is trying to appeal to an audience that the Reform Party traditionally appeals to, claiming the usual virtue that the NDP used to claim in this House but even they have abandoned this pretence.
The hon. member knows perfectly well that what the government has done in this case is entirely in conformity with the red book. When he quoted from the red book he omitted to mention the fact that the references he made and the quotations he cited from the book were taken from a section dealing with the obligation of lobbyists to disclose certain facts to Parliament.
We talked about openness in government in connection with lobbyists because we were concerned that in the case of the previous government there were dealings going on between lobbyists and members of Parliament and members of cabinet that were not open to public scrutiny. We decided that should be opened up and to that end we have introduced Bill C-43 to amend the Lobbyists Registration Act, which bill is currently before a committee as the hon. member knows perfectly well.
Under Bill C-43 the ethics counsellor is available to advise not just the Prime Minister but also to make certain statements to Parliament. He is given independent powers with respect to the lobbying industry. If there are grounds to believe there has been a breach of the lobbyists' code of conduct the ethics counsellor could decide to investigate and the report on the investigation would then be reported to Parliament.
Also under Bill C-43 the ethics counsellor must report to Parliament annually on the administration of the legislation regarding lobbying.
The hon. member knows perfectly well that is all contained in the draft bill. If the member had been responsible in making his comments he would have pointed that out. He knows that is the situation.
In fact the Prime Minister has accepted full responsibility for the actions of the Minister of Canadian Heritage in this case and quite properly so. He described the minister's actions as an honest mistake that was corrected by the minister at the earliest opportunity.
I do not understand why the hon. member will not accept that explanation. To me it is a reasonable one. As the Prime Minister said in the House in question period yesterday, the buck stops here. He is taking responsibility and no ethics counsellor can take that responsibility away from the Prime Minister of Canada who is ultimately responsible to this House.
Questions On The Order Paper November 1st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Committees Of The House November 1st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 45th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. It concerns the membership of committees.
Mr. Speaker, I think you will find that there is unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of the 45th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. Also, with the consent of the House, I would like to move that the 45th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, tabled in the House today, be concurred in.
(Motion agreed to.)
Government Response To Petitions November 1st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 28 petitions.