Scott Brison

[The Environment, April 6th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the environment is the number one priority for Canadians. Just because it does not fit into the Conservatives five simple little priorities does not mean it should not be a priority for the government.

We have a responsibility to continue making the plan that the Liberal government implemented work. It was working; it can work. We can meet our Kyoto targets if we work together as Canadians, but not if we cancel the programs that engage Canadians in making it happen.

How much are the Conservatives cutting from these programs? How many programs are being cut? Will the Conservatives guarantee that the funding from the programs being cut will be used for other environmental--

[The Environment, April 6th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, on March 11 the Minister of the Environment said that the one-tonne challenge was a good project. Three weeks later, she ended all the environmental grants under the program.

If the minister thought that the one-tonne challenge was a good idea, why cancel it?

[Sponsorship Program, November 28th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, members have reached a new low over there. The fact is the Liberal Party of Canada has paid every penny received inappropriately back to the Canadian taxpayer, based on an analysis of Justice Gomery's report. At the end of the day, we Liberals stand with Canadians who believe in the work and the analysis of Justice Gomery who heard from 172 witnesses and reviewed over 28 million pages of documents.

Justice Gomery is interested in getting to the truth. That is what Canadians want. They do not want to go to the polls, which is all the Conservatives want.

[Sponsorship Program, November 28th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that the Liberal Party of Canada has paid back every penny received inappropriately as a result of these activities. Furthermore, the analysis was conducted based on Justice Gomery's facts.

The Conservatives can work with the separatists and pull figures out of the air to try to besmirch the reputation of good people who are involved in political life, but the fact is that our analysis is based on Justice Gomery. We trust Justice Gomery, not the separatists and the Conservatives.

[Ethics, November 24th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is Justice Gomery said that under the previous Conservative government it was impossible for firms that were not Conservative related to get any advertising contracts.

Further, this government and the Prime Minister have done more to end this kind of activity, to ensure that Canadians have open, transparent and accountable government than any prime minister in the history of Canada.

I am proud, we are proud to sit with the Prime Minister defending the interests of Canadians and not throwing mud on everyone involved in the political process like that party is doing.

[Sponsorship Program, November 24th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows absolutely that the Liberal Party of Canada has paid every cent to the Canadian taxpayer that was received inappropriately. Beyond that, Mr. Justice Gomery said:

The persons responsible for these irregularities have been identified and reproached for their errors and misconduct. The procedure for uncovering wrongdoing is ponderous and expensive, but in the long run it works fairly well.

Mr. Justice Gomery has faith in our system. Justice Gomery has faith in our elected officials and our political parties. That hon. member is tarnishing the reputation of everybody in--

[Government Policies, November 23rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, this is what Justice Gomery said in his report:

The persons responsible for these irregularities have been identified and reproached for their errors and misconduct. The procedure for uncovering wrongdoing is ponderous and expensive, but in the long run it works fairly well.

Canadians should not forget that the vast majority of our public officials and politicians do their work honestly, diligently and effectively, and emerged from this inquiry free of blame. Justice Gomery did not tarnish the reputations of everybody who works hard on behalf of Canadians, like that hon. member is doing.

[Government Contracts, November 23rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, this is what the Auditor General said about public opinion research for the government:

Overall, public opinion research was managed transparently, with roles and responsibilities clearly defined.

We have taken steps to strengthen public opinion research. We continue to do so, as does the private sector. We will continue to engage Canadians, seek their input and build public policies that reflect their values.

[Government Contracts, November 22nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the Auditor General has stated that public opinion research is generally “well managed” within the government.

We are working, as are private sector firms, to strengthen public opinion research. We are working with Statistics Canada to do exactly that.

[Government Contracts, November 22nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General has in fact stated that public opinion research is generally “well managed” within the government. Furthermore, to strengthen quality, we are establishing an expert technical panel with Statistics Canada to help us develop appropriate benchmarks and standards for the government's public opinion research.

It is worth noting that the Auditor General has indicated that the average response rate for government surveys is more than twice the industry average for cost-shared studies.