Ralph Goodale

[Government Contracts, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I think I know the direction in which the hon. gentleman was heading with his question.

There are two basic answers. I have already indicated that for work of this nature I do not like the commission system and that I will in future be developing a system that will allow this kind of a program to function without the intervention of outside agents.

With respect to the combined ownership, my predecessor already took action to deal with that.

[Government Contracts, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, obviously serious errors have been made with respect to the sponsorship program. Those were first revealed through an internal audit that was conducted by my department. Corrective actions were begun in the year 2001. They have accelerated through the year 2002. These problems are serious, they must be corrected and I am determined to find the answers that will satisfy Canadians.

[Government Contracts, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, if one were to do a very simplistic analysis it would appear that the sponsorship programs represents less than half a percentage point of the business transacted in my portfolio.

However, whether it is large or small, regardless of the size, it demands the highest standards of transparency, accountability and value for money. That is my responsibility and I intend to deliver on that responsibility.

[Government Contracts, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the methodology suggested by the right hon. gentleman is obviously not appropriate.

I have indicated to the House that I intend to get to the bottom of these matters and to pursue all legal means available to the Government of Canada. Those means are likely to be more effective than that suggested by the hon. gentleman.

[Government Contracts, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, in the year 2000, at the instigation of the former deputy minister of public works, the government conducted a solid internal audit with respect to the sponsorships program to identify where the procedural and documentation errors were within that particular program.

Since that time an action plan has been taken to address the errors and mistakes of the past. That action plan was implemented on a step by step basis and a further verification this spring indicated that corrective action had been taken.

[Government Contracts, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, for the reasons that have been explained in the House before, there are a number of investigations and inquiries already fully underway.

My department is examining all those files between the period of 1997 to 2000 yet again. The Prime Minister has charged the President of the Treasury Board to review the governance and management framework. That work is underway.

The auditor general has indicated that she will conduct a government wide audit with respect to all advertising sponsorships completely independently. Of course there is also the work of the police where that is necessary.

[Government Contracts, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, again I fail to see how referring matters to the RCMP is trivializing the subject matter. We are investigating the situation internally from a departmental point of view. We are pursuing our obligations with respect to the auditor general. Police inquiries are underway. The treasury board is doing its job with respect to governance and management, and of course the public accounts committee is doing its job too. On all fronts this matter is being properly pursued.

[Government Contracts, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's treatment of this matter has been anything but light. He has indicated in this House and publicly that where there are mistakes in administration, they will be corrected; where there are overpayments, they will be recovered; and if there is any trace of illegal activity, that will be investigated and prosecuted. That is not light treatment.

[Government Contracts, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, my job is to identify where errors have been made in the past and to ensure that those errors are not repeated in the future. Accordingly a whole series of activities have been undertaken, as I have outlined to the House over and over again.

What I am encouraged about is not the harangue that comes from the opposition, but the daily comments that I have received from Canadians from coast to coast to coast saying that this file is being properly handled.

[Government Contracts, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, on the second day that I was minister in this portfolio, I indicated that there was a freeze on future sponsorship activities until I was in a position to examine the criteria for the programs and examine if all the projects were in compliance with those criteria. That review by me, which began immediately upon my taking office, has been proceeding.

In the meantime there have been representations from virtually every party in the House to find a means to restart the programs so the community organizations are not disadvantaged.