House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2019, with 34% of the vote.
Government Contracts June 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I will personally examine the facts that the hon. gentleman alleges. I take his point seriously. I will check into anything that might constitute an irregularity or a violation of the guidelines.
The guidelines and the operating procedures are important to ensure that there is transparency and fairness in all these activities.
Government Contracts June 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I have on other occasions provided the answer to that question.
First, I appreciate the inherent recognition of the value of what the program was trying to accomplish. That is exceedingly important.
Second, can we improve the administration? Can we find better ways to deliver this support to communities, groups and organizations? Can we build the country at the same time and save money? Yes, indeed, I believe we can.
Government Contracts June 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, two points need to be made here.
First, I believe there is broad support in the House and broad support among Canadians for the principle of what the sponsorship program has sought to achieve. I have before me letters from the leader of the Bloc Quebecois and the member for Rimouski-Neigette-et-la Mitis, for example, endorsing what the program was trying to achieve.
Some administrative difficulties have been identified and the government has laid out a very aggressive program on how we will correct those administrative problems while we continue to--
Government Contracts June 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. gentleman may be mixing up audits. However I do want to share with him the comments of the auditor general with respect to the internal audit division of Public Works and Government Services Canada.
The auditor general says that the internal audit function of this department is excellent, courageous and does firstclass work. It was that audit which revealed the difficulties we are now dealing with. The Treasury Board Secretariat is pursuing a government wide approach to improve the process with respect to sponsorships, advertising and polls.
Government Contracts June 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I made some inquiries with respect to this matter and the information before me would indicate very clearly that Media IDA Vision was selected for a role as agency of record through a process that was completely competitive in 1998.
Canadian Wheat Board June 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I have no personal knowledge at all of the matters that the hon. gentleman alleges, but quite frankly I take the allegations seriously. I will make the appropriate inquiries and if any guidelines have in fact been contravened, corrective action will be taken.
Government Contracts June 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, with matters related to financial administration, surely the public official that is best equipped to deal with those questions is in fact the auditor general. She is conducting a government-wide inquiry.
Where any matters bear upon legal issues, surely the most effective remedy there is reference to the appropriate police authorities and that is in fact being done.
We are dealing with this issue in the proper manner.
Government Contracts June 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, with respect to all of the matters, I believe, referred to in the hon. member's question, I point out that my predecessor took corrective action immediately in each and every case, including the suspension of the sponsorship relationship with Groupaction.
Obviously in years gone by there were problems and errors with respect to Groupaction. A series of corrective actions is now in the process of being implemented and we are absolutely determined to make sure that this experience is not repeated.
Government Contracts June 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, there are several levels of inquiry and corrective activity that are underway. My department is examining all of the files once again in that period 1997 to the year 2000.
The auditor general is conducting a government-wide inquiry with respect to advertising and sponsorships.
Where matters that may raise legal issues come to light, they are referred to the appropriate police authorities. The Treasury Board is also examining on a government-wide basis what corrective action might be needed. We are approaching this on all fronts.
Government Contracts June 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general has inquired into matters related to Groupaction. The auditor general concluded that there were obviously deficiencies and serious problems that needed to be addressed with respect to that file.
That corrective action is now beginning to get underway, including all of the appropriate investigations that need to be undertaken. The government wants to ensure that where mistakes were existing in the past they are not repeated in the future.