Ralph Goodale

[Government Contracts, February 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, indeed, in the early part of 2002 the government began to take the decisive action that was required. That included the reference to the Auditor General. She conducted her inquiry in April and May. She reported in May.

In May she indicated she would go further, referring some matters to the RCMP and conducting a government-wide examination of sponsorship and advertising issues. The Government of Canada cooperated every step of the way with the Auditor General to make sure that she could do her job properly.

[Government Contracts, February 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, to repeat, the Prime Minister said yesterday that the gravity of the situation, going beyond merely administrative matters, began to emerge in the early part of 2002. That is when the letter in question was written, in February, I believe. The Groupaction matter was referred to the Auditor General in March. She began her investigation in April. She completed and reported the investigation in May and then she proceeded to her larger examination. Obviously this matter has been pursued very assiduously since then.

[Government Contracts, February 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the very broad terms for the public inquiry, the Prime Minister has already asked the President of the Treasury Board to examine into all matters related to crown corporations. As members of the House will know, the President of the Treasury Board is a very determined individual.

[Government Contracts, February 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, in the announcements the Prime Minister made on Tuesday he indicated that we have already appointed a special legal counsel for the recovery of money. The credentials of Monsieur André Gauthier are absolutely above reproach. He has the full authority to follow the money trail wherever that trail may lead.

[Government Contracts, February 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said yesterday that the gravity of the situation began to emerge in the early part of 2002.

Mr. Maharaj's letter was written in February 2002. The Groupaction matter was referred to the Auditor General in March. She reported in May and then proceeded to her more detailed examination. Obviously that is completely consistent with what the Prime Minister described yesterday.

[Insurance Industry, February 9th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, insurance companies are indeed expected to follow prudent investment policies in order to protect the interests of the policy holders.

Last year we asked the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions to examine the portfolios and report. The report showed that on average 80% of the investments of these companies were in bonds, either issued by governments or guaranteed by governments. Only 10% were in equities.

That having been said, I would be happy to have any advice from the hon. gentleman as to how we might further improve the situation.

[Canada Steamship Lines, February 9th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the tax relationship with Barbados dates back to 1980.

However the hon. gentleman will know that international business and taxation matters are hugely complex. What is needed to deal with them is a concerted international effort where countries cooperate together with each other.

That is why this past weekend I raised this issue with colleagues in the G-7, specifically with Secretary Snow of the United States and Horst Kohler, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund. We have agreed to work together to find sensible solutions in the international business community.

[Canada Steamship Lines, February 9th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman is just plainly wrong. Bill C-28 is irrelevant to a company like CSL.

[Canada Steamship Lines, February 9th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure the hon. gentleman would want to base his case upon Arthur Andersen.

In any event, the tax laws of Canada are not designed or created to be of a particular privilege or benefit to any one company. Indeed, the record of this government has been in the opposite direction: to close the privileges. That effort was led by the Prime Minister when he was the minister of finance.

[Canada Steamship Lines, February 9th, 2004]

No, Mr. Speaker. The argument with respect to the tax treaty with Barbados was made by the broad Canadian business community, plus a number of tax professionals, plus the government of Barbados. The argument dates back to the days of Barbara McDougall when she was the Conservative minister of foreign affairs, and even before that, all the way back to 1980. There was nothing peculiar about it at the time referred to by the hon. gentleman.