House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 50% of the vote.
Government Appointments March 27th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I think we have been quite clear about what happened.
The Minister of the Environment, who was identified in this matter, his response when he was approached by the individual seeking appointment was that he did not know what he was talking about it. I think that applies to some others who are asking questions here.
The fact is no such position was offered by the government. No such appointment was given by the government and no such appointment will be given by the government.
Government Appointments March 27th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I think we have been pretty clear about this particular case. No such position was offered by the government. No such appointment was given by the government. No such appointment will be given by the government.
Government Appointments March 26th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, in terms of the perspective of the government, the individual in question says he contacted the Minister of the Environment about a possible appointment. The minister said he did not know what he was talking about. I think that is all on the record and the individual in question exonerated the Minister of the Environment.
Minister of Public Safety March 26th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, offering inducements to someone to step aside for another Liberal is something the Liberal Party knows an awful lot about. After all, does everyone know that the leader of the Liberal Party, the member for Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, was elected to Parliament only after a Liberal MP, Shirley Maheu, was given an appointment to the Senate so that he had a place to run? The Liberals seem to know something about inducements.
Minister of Public Safety March 26th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, this is an old story.
The member for Ajax—Pickering could be helpful. While he is busy finding lost property and returning it to its proper owners, perhaps he could help taxpayers by finding the $40 million the Liberals took in the sponsorship scandal and returning it to its proper owners, the taxpayers of Canada.
Democratic Reform March 23rd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, this was a very independent process. I suppose the NDP would only like to see a process where the contractor is one who shares its particular vision of an outcome to be predetermined.
We do not want an outcome predetermined. We want to genuinely hear from Canadians, not those who have a lobby group that has made its views already clearly known, but from ordinary Canadians on the things that matter to them: House of Commons, Senate reform, the way our political parties work and, of course, the very important subject of civic engagement. We want to see more Canadians involved in every aspect of civic life.
Democratic Reform March 23rd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, while this public consultations process is completely independent and run by an independent contractor, what occurred here is clearly an unacceptable situation.
I have been told by my officials that the subcontractor has been terminated, the situation has been corrected and the polling firm that is the main contractor has assured us that it will not affect the results of the report that it will be presenting to the government this summer.
Afghanistan March 23rd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, we are very proud of our Minister of National Defence because he reached an agreement with the Afghan independent human rights commission ensuring access to detainees in order to see that their civil and human rights are protected. We are very proud of his success.
Afghanistan March 23rd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I think the minister was clear. He clarified things. Access to detainees is the responsibility of the Afghan independent human rights commission. Nonetheless, I am concerned by the fact that the opposition seems only to be interested in the detainees. For example, the Bloc has asked questions about the detainees 17 times, but only asked once about the soldiers.
Minister of Public Safety March 23rd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I notice that the hon. member did not give any response to our suggestion that if an apple is an apple perhaps he should ask the Liberal member for Ottawa—Vanier to resign. Apparently, they are two different tests, two different standards. That is the way it has always been for the Liberal Party.
We do not work that way. This is an old news story. It was investigated and dealt with by the RCMP. Perhaps he could talk to the member for Ottawa—Vanier about what he did.