Ralph Goodale

[Prairie Farmers, October 31st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. If any farmer wishes to export wheat from any part of Canada, it requires an export permit. That applies nationally across the country.

The changes we made in 1998 include these facts: the Canadian Wheat Board is no longer a crown corporation; it is no longer run by government appointees; and it is controlled by a board of directors with a two-thirds majority directly elected by farmers themselves. All the powers of the Canadian Wheat Board are vested in those directors.

[Prairie Farmers, October 31st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the comparison to Ontario, it should be noted that in fact grain is marketed in and from Ontario under the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board. The flexibilities that have been achieved in Ontario have been achieved by the democratic decisions taken by the directors of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board. The act of the Canadian Wheat Board was amended in 1998 to provide directors of the Canadian Wheat Board in western Canada with the ability to make the same decisions in western Canada.

[Prairie Farmers, October 31st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. The protesters from 1996, who are facing the difficulty in Lethbridge today, have chosen this particular route to express themselves. They chose this particular method. It was not imposed upon them. They have been seeking to maximize their publicity in this matter. That is their right. However, let us be clear, the choice with respect to the jail proceedings is one that was chosen by them.

[Government Contracts, October 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman asks if I care. Indeed I do. I have indicated to him in the past that I am prepared to work with him to reveal any necessary facts that need to be in the public domain. To this point, nothing has been indicated to me that would substantiate his allegations, but I am prepared to continue the inquiry and to work with him until satisfactory information is available.

[Government Contracts, October 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman first raised this issue with me when I was previously the government House leader, and I know he has a particular interest in a set of circumstances that has been inquired into in the past.

To date, there has been nothing revealed to me that would indicate any substantiation of his allegations, but I assure him that I share his interest in probity and transparency. I am prepared to work with him to make sure that all necessary information is made available.

[Government Contracts, October 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, again I think the hon. gentleman is directing his attention in the wrong place. Departments can make whatever recommendations they wish to make. Obviously that is valued input into the process but the final decision is taken by the Department of Public Works which has the contracting authority.

I would also point out that under the direction of the Prime Minister, the President of the Treasury Board has been working on a set of new recommendations about the governance framework for advertising to make sure that in the future the system is accountable, transparent and achieves value for the taxpayers' money in every case.

[Government Contracts, October 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated, I have no way of knowing the basis upon which a particular department makes a recommendation. Often when the department requisitions a call-up against a list of pre-qualified suppliers, they make a suggestion or a recommendation. It is not unusual. Again, I would emphasize that it is not up to that department to make the decision. It is up to the Department of Public Works to make the decision and that is what happened in this case.

[Government Contracts, October 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, again while my department welcomes the input of other departments and takes their views into account, the selection decision is not made by those other departments. The selection decision is made according to the views of officials within the Department of Public Works and Government Services.

[Government Contracts, October 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, to the very best of my knowledge, neither the Minister of Canadian Heritage nor the Secretary of State for Amateur Sport made any representations to officials in my department. It was officials in my department who made the decision.

[Government Contracts, October 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, whatever a requisitioning department may suggest or recommend, and it is that department's prerogative to make recommendations and suggestions, the selection is made by officials in the Department of Public Works. That is what transpired in this particular case.

With respect to the expertise of the firm, by all accounts the consultation process was very successful.