Richard Nadeau

[Business of Supply, March 15th, 2010]

Madam Speaker, I am flabbergasted and troubled by the words of my colleague, who has been in the House of Commons longer than I have. I did not say anything about ten percenters. He asked me a question and claimed that I criticized the ten percenter program.

I will be less than kind, because I feel he is taking things a little too far. Does he have a problem with his ears? He obviously did not listen to a word I said. Besides, the member simply has to use the little machine in front of him on the “English” setting when I speak French. Otherwise, he will have no idea what I am saying.

This is my most recent flyer. It calls for a museum of science and technology to be created in Gatineau. It is a very nice flyer, printed in a lovely shade of blue. I would love to see the museum set up where Canada and Quebec meet, in the former E.B. Eddy building, in order to preserve heritage buildings. I think it is a very nice flyer. I do not attack anyone or anything in this flyer; I am not a Conservative.

[Business of Supply, March 15th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Saint-Lambert.

It is important for me to rise here today to inform Quebeckers of the waste that abounds within the federal government under this Reform-Conservative administration, although it claims to be squeaky clean.

When we hear things like $1,000 to install a doorbell, $2,000 to look after two live plants, $5,000 to install a light in a minister's office or $20,000 to mop the floors in ministers' offices, one might think we have returned to the days of the Liberals sponsorship scandal.

I am hearing some people here in the House who are very interested in how this plays out. Who remembers the $250 Christmas ornaments and the huge amounts of money spent on fictitious trade shows in Olympic stadiums in Rimouski, Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke and Sainte-Foy? Of course, those trade shows never took place and those stadiums never existed. Yet taxpayers' money was used to pay the Liberals' cronies.

Now it is the Conservatives who have been caught red handed, caught with their hands in the cookie jar. But this is worse, because we are talking about taxpayers' money, money that does not belong to them. This is just as shameful.

The Conservative government is trying to balance the budget by proposing flashy but ineffective measures, but the media reported that the Department of Public Works and Government Services awarded a contract worth $6 billion—that is $6,000 million—over 11 years to SNC-Lavalin ProFac, and that outrageously expensive invoices were paid.

Instead of blaming it all on her departmental officials, the minister should release the 200 pages or so of invoices for which SNC-Lavalin refused to provide details. Also, the minister should tell us whether she will review the conditions of this contract so that a fair, equitable and transparent process can be put in place for subcontractors.

On September 2, 2009, I sent a letter regarding the problem with SNC-Lavalin contracts to the then-minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, the member for Mégantic—L'Érable. I am still awaiting a response.

The new Minister of Public Works and Government Services, the member for Edmonton—Spruce Grove, has received a copy of this letter. I will read it out, as I think it will be of interest to everyone here who cares about transparency. It was addressed to the minister at the time.

Subject: Request for meeting—Awarding contracts and tendering process

Dear Minister,

Yesterday I met with the owner of a company in my riding regarding the awarding of contracts for federal government services. He asked to remain anonymous, as I am sure you can understand. That is why I will speak more generally about the problem with awarding contracts. [I will not limit this to the individual I spoke with.]

I am writing to you not only on his behalf, but also on behalf of several businesses in my riding, about which I have contacted you regularly since it seems as though the contracting and tendering process lacks transparency and fairness, on a number of levels, for small and medium-sized businesses in the Outaouais region.

For example, when a large company like SNC-Lavalin [the letter was sent on September 9] is awarded a contract to maintain federal government buildings, it is not obligated to issue a public tender [this is outrageous]; it issues an invited tender [it asks its friends to apply].

It is always the same five or six companies that are called and decide amongst themselves whose turn it is to be granted the contract this time.

Is that not scandalous? How shameful. If I were a Conservative, I would hide behind a desk. Fortunately they are not listening; they do not know what goes on in the House.

Is that a fair process? [No, it is not.] Since it is not public, the majority of the companies are not aware of and cannot respond to the call for tenders. Why is there not a clause in the contract requiring the corporation that wins the contract to make public calls for tender? [I hope the minister will answer that question.]

What is more, in order to ensure fairness, the corporation should have to favour local companies. The majority of the government buildings are in Ottawa; a dozen at most are on the Gatineau side, where lots of competent small and medium-sized companies are prepared to respond to public calls for tender.

We are all aware of the problem of unfairness that prevails when it comes to goods and services contracts between Ottawa and Gatineau.

It is simple common sense. Changing lights does not require a great engineer from the planet Mars or anywhere else. Someone locally can certainly do it for less than $5,000 a light.

Other companies are going through an extremely difficult time, as you know, since I met with you or sent you correspondence to raise the subject the injustices experienced by these companies. [I am still talking to the then-minister.] A number of them are convinced that the contracting process is not fair and balanced and that there is an abuse of power. [This letter was written last September; the media talked about this in March, a few days ago.]

That is why I would like to meet with you [I am polite and I want to explain things to him] as soon as possible [I am still waiting] to talk about this. It is imperative that we address the problems encountered by private small and medium-sized companies that in some cases cannot participate in calls for tender since only invitees are entitled to a piece of the pie, and by those who participate in calls for tender and feel shut out of the contracting process.

I am available to meet with you [we are in the same room, we can see each other in Parliament] at your convenience. I want to thank you in advance for your interest in this unacceptable situation that companies in my riding and other regions are experiencing.

Sincerely,

I hope this will be addressed. Why do we always have to wait for the media to run with this type of story to realize that the machine is not working so well?

The letter was signed by me, the member for Gatineau, and Sheila Fraser, the Auditor General, was cc'ed.

This situation is highly insulting to small and medium-size businesses in the Outaouais. Do not forget that in 2008, the federal government awarded contracts for goods and services worth $3 billion to suppliers in the national capital region.

Only 1.4%, or $38 million, was awarded to Gatineau companies, whereas 98.6% was awarded to Ottawa companies. This situation is unacceptable and scandalous.

In addition, SNC-Lavalin does not use a public tender process to recruit subcontractors. Instead, it invites its buddies to submit tenders. This smacks of cronyism, at the very least. It is scandalous.

Madame Speaker, I see that you shudder to contemplate such an appalling situation.

This is very clearly unfair. Gatineau business people are choosing to open offices in Ottawa in order to make it onto the federal radar and win contracts, since Gatineau seems to be off the radar. This situation must be resolved; it seems fishy.

[December 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, according to this morning's Le Droit,

The architect of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Douglas Cardinal, is “appalled” to see how the museums' workers, who have been on strike for 81 days, are being treated.

“Museum workers are guardians of Canadian heritage and the keepers of our national treasures,” he said. “It's absolutely shameful that the museums' management is not in dialogue seeking a mutually harmonious resolution [to the conflict]”.

The internationally renowned architect, now 75, spoke out yesterday in support of the 420 striking employees of the Museum of Civilization and the War Museum.

I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Cardinal.

The 420 striking workers want the Minister of Labour to keep the strike from dragging on any longer. She must intervene and impose binding arbitration. That is a reasonable solution to put an end to the conflict.

[December 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is proving impossible to reach a negotiated agreement with the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. The employees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum have been on strike since September 21, 2009. At the end of August, the 420 workers voted 92% in favour of the strike.

From the beginning, the union has clearly indicated to the employer, to a mediator, to members of Parliament and to the general public that the employees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation are simply asking for employment conditions similar to those offered in other museums and cultural institutions in the region.

Specifically, these conditions include layoff protection, protection against subcontracting, a commitment to promote stable, permanent employment, and salaries that are in line with those paid at other museums in the region. The Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation's position falls short in all those areas.

Regarding layoff protection, the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation insists on maintaining its capacity to lay off employees as it sees fit. When layoffs do occur, the corporation refuses to recognize the employees' years of service to the organization.

Regarding protection against subcontracting, the employer wants to maintain its authority to contract out certain jobs.

Regarding fairer treatment for term employees, the employer wants it to be more difficult for certain employees to get indeterminate positions. Again, 38% of the staff is temporary.

Regarding salaries and other monetary items, the employer's position is such that employees lag far behind those of other museums in the region. However, the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation has recognized from the outset that recruitment and retention are serious problems.

In terms of the overall situation, the striking workers from the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum have massively rejected the final offered presented by the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. The workers came together at a meeting and 96% rejected the offer.

After the vote, the Public Service Alliance of Canada informed the Minister of Labour that it would be impossible to reach a negotiated agreement with the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation and therefore asked for her direct intervention to settle this dispute without further delay.

The statements made by the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation after the vote only confirm to what extent the parties are divided on the issues. Given the length and intensity of the strike, binding arbitration is a reasonable solution to end the dispute.

We are therefore asking the Minister of Labour to provide a reasonable solution by imposing binding arbitration.

[National Capital Commission, December 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in committee, the Conservatives and the NDP showed us once again that recognizing the Quebec nation means nothing at all to them.

The Conservatives and the NDP opposed the proposal that the National Capital Commission consult the Government of Quebec on developing a master plan for the federal capital region, leaving everything to unelected officials. They are refusing to recognize the Government of Quebec's prerogative to manage its own territory. They are refusing to recognize that the Quebec nation has the right to choose what is best for itself. Countless times, Quebec has criticized the NCC's intervention in the Outaouais and the impact of its decisions, which far too often are made without any sort of consultation process.

Like the Conservatives, the NDP is showing us that recognizing the Quebec nation is nothing more than empty words.

[Royal Canadian Mint, November 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the Royal Canadian Mint lost $15 million in gold and silver in 2008. The RCMP and external accountants have confirmed that this was neither the result of theft nor an accounting error. According to an internal source and a private company quoted in the Globe and Mail, part of the missing 550 kilograms simply was lost in the refining process.

Since the refining process used by the Royal Canadian Mint has not changed much in the past few years, will the minister acknowledge that the Royal Canadian Mint has sent more than $15 million of gold and silver directly down the drain?

[Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, November 25th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is 80 days until the opening of the Olympic Games in Vancouver, and French still seems to be nothing more than a foreign language among so many others to the federal government and the Olympic organizing committee. The indifference and bad faith of the officials have touched every aspect of the games, from the ceremony announcing the start of the Olympic countdown to the tourist information bureau where you can get bilingual flyers in English and Mandarin. French is absent.

How can the minister responsible for official languages accept such disdain for French?

[Le Carrefour de Gatineau Composite School, November 24th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, Le Carrefour de Gatineau, a composite school, is celebrating its 35th anniversary. As part of the celebrations, students will see the results of a project to green the yard in front of their school. The people behind this ambitious project, Lise Lorrain-Janvier, a social work technician, and Maxime Bruchési, a student at the school, have spent nearly two years working on it, with the help of volunteers and friends.

Le Carrefour is a dynamic school where every teacher and every member of the administration is committed to equipping young people for adulthood. It is a school where innovative projects and initiatives are encouraged and supported by the whole school community.

The Bloc Québécois joins me in congratulating the members of the administration, the teachers, the volunteers and the students and wishing them a happy 35th anniversary.

[November 19th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, will unplanned communications take place simultaneously in French and English? According to the present plan, there will be a 12 hour delay for what are called non-urgent communications and a six hour delay for urgent communications, which is a denial of the equal status of French and English.

Will all crowd leaders be bilingual? Will the medical services be able to provide care without delay in French as well as in English as each case requires? Will biographies of all athletes be available in French and English to the media and the public by the beginning of the Games? Will the front line personnel at the Vancouver Games be able to respect the requirement to actively offer their services in French and English during the whole international event? Will the Public Health Agency of Canada and the RCMP be able to offer their services—

[November 19th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I am going to quote a brief article published in the French newspaper Le Figaro, on November 9, 2009:

French Snubbed at Vancouver's Olympic Games

With 100 days to go before the opening ceremonies of Vancouver's Winter Olympic Games, the organizing committee's performance when it comes to bilingualism is a sorry one. Fewer than 15% of the 25,000 volunteers will speak French. The fact that they will be deployed in strategic locations and will wear a pin saying “Bonjour” is small consolation.

We are now on the eve of the February 2010 Vancouver Games. We have known for seven years that the Games were coming, but we still do not know whether French and English will receive equal treatment.

Needless to say, French will once again be the loser.

In September, the Commissioner of Official Languages, Graham Fraser, stated that about 10 federal entities evaluated in a report before the 2010 Vancouver Games showed dismal results in terms of their ability to provide services in French. He said that out of the points of service under airport authority responsibility that are designated as bilingual, only 10% are bilingual.

Many questions remain unanswered regarding the fair treatment of both French and English.

Will Toronto's Pearson, Ottawa's Macdonald-Cartier, Halifax's Stanfield, Montreal's Trudeau and Vancouver's International airports be in a position to welcome travellers in both French and English?

Will the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, CATSA, and the Canada Border Services Agency actively interact in French and in English with all travellers? Will these agencies be able to communicate orally in French with anyone who requests it?

Will Air Canada be able to actively use French and English on all its flights in the air corridors that require the use of both official languages of Canada? Will personnel also be able to communicate orally in French with anyone who requests it?

Are francophone travellers going to be able to get services in French wherever they request it at the Olympic venues?

Will the City of Richmond, where the Olympic Oval is located, finally agree to put up Olympic information signs in both official languages?

Will the translation of the 7,500,000 words that have yet to be delivered by the organizing committee in order to provide documents in both official languages be finished?

Will the Cultural Olympiad actually present 25% of all its shows in French?

Will the Tourism BC and Vancouver Tourism booths be able to provide equal services in French and English?