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Government Contracts June 10th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, indeed immediately upon the completion of the internal audit, which again I would say the auditor general has described as excellent, courageous and a critical piece of work, an action plan was developed in order to correct what the audit had revealed. That action plan was implemented over the course of the following 12 to 15 months. There was a review conducted in the spring of this year to verify that in fact the corrective action had been taken.
Government Contracts June 10th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, in fact the internal audit was posted on the Internet on October 11, 2000. The only changes that were made were those required by the Access to Information Act and the privacy legislation. Otherwise there were no material differences whatsoever.
Media reports began to appear the very next day, October 12, 2000, as evidenced on page 3 of the Globe and Mail . Obviously this was not a secret operation.
Government Contracts June 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the use of agencies has obviously raised serious concerns on the part of the auditor general, on the part of the internal audit section of Public Works and Government Services Canada and indeed throughout the government.
I am concerned. I know the President of the Treasury Board shares that concern, as does the Prime Minister and every member of the government.
It is important that the work of government be transparent, accountable and full value for money. That is what we are determined to achieve. We do not condone any of the actions from the past that appear to be substandard or wrong. We will find the corrective action. We will implement the corrective action.
Government Contracts June 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general examined certain files with respect to Groupaction. She indicated her dissatisfaction with the condition of those files. She took certain steps in relation to a police investigation and she has also launched a government-wide inquiry with respect to all advertising and sponsorship matters.
The government is co-operating with that initiative on every front. We are just as concerned as Ms. Fraser to solve this issue once and for all.
Government Contracts June 7th, 2002
Again, Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman is twisting and turning to try to make a case with respect to the Prime Minister that simply is not there.
The auditor general indicated what her concerns were with respect to certain aspects of the contracting process. The government has acted upon her initial recommendations. She has made references to the police. So have we. She will be conducting a government-wide inquiry of all advertising and sponsorship matters. The treasury board is engaged. My department is engaged. We will solve this issue.
Government Contracts June 7th, 2002
Again, Mr. Speaker, let me review the chronology of events. It was the department of public works itself that launched the internal audit. It was the internal audit that revealed the deficiencies. A corrective plan was initiated immediately. It was implemented progressively over the following 18 months.
In the spring of this year the internal auditor was sent back in to verify that the action had in fact been taken, and that verification was there. In addition, we have called upon the auditor general and, where appropriate, the RCMP to make sure that this matter is properly disposed of, transparently, in the public interest.
Government Contracts June 7th, 2002
Absolutely not, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, Groupaction was cut off from the sponsorship program in March of this year by my predecessor and I obviously indicated similar action yesterday with respect to other advertising work.
Government Contracts June 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I have no personal knowledge of those periods of time directly, but as the hon. gentleman knows, the matter has been covered by an internal audit. It has been covered by the auditor general. A process is ongoing now that wherever there is any question that merits a police investigation that reference is automatically made.
We are determined to resolve this issue in the public interest.
Government Contracts June 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated to the House on several occasions, I have serious reservations about the use of the agencies in relation to a sponsorship program. I think we can deliver a better program at lower cost without the intervention of agencies and that is the direction I am pursuing.
Government Contracts June 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, it was the department of public works itself that launched the internal audit. That audit resulted in corrective action beginning immediately upon the conclusion of the audit work. That corrective action has been taken all the way through the intervening years. A subsequent review confirmed that it had in fact been taken as it was promised.
This government has been determined to find out what is wrong here and to fix it.