Scott Brison

[Public Works and Government Services, October 25th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we are making it easier for Canada's small business community to do business with the Government of Canada. I am pleased to announce that our office of small and medium enterprises is working closely with the small business community to streamline and simplify the government procurement process.

We are tearing down the barriers between government procurement and Canada's small business community because we want Canada's small business community to be a partner in progress with Public Works and the Government of Canada to get the best possible value for the Canadian taxpayer.

[Government Contracts, October 24th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, the review—and it is not an audit, it is a review—was commissioned by the department as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen competition and to increase accountability.

The fact is that these contracts with the company were cancelled as a result of this review, but it is important to recognize that in all cases services were received for taxpayers' dollars and that in fact there were valuable services provided by the company. Furthermore, there has been disciplinary action taken against this employee.

[Government Contracts, October 21st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, we decided to cancel these contracts as part of an overall review as we strengthen governance and improve competition and value for tax dollars. It is important to note that there was no issue with the services being provided, and in fact, that value was received for tax dollars.

[Public Works and Government Services, October 20th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, this has been a fair, open and transparent process. I can guarantee the hon. member that in this process of procurement and in all our procurement processes we will always deliver the best possible value for Canadian taxpayers while providing the best equipment and services to our Canadian armed forces.

We are operating an open, transparent and accountable process and we are investing to ensure that our Canadian armed forces have the equipment to do their jobs.

[Technology Partnerships Canada, October 7th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the industry minister is the minister who supports fully this audit process, to get the facts that Canadians deserve, and to get the information that the government needs to make a good decision.

Let us recognize that Technology Partnerships Canada has made important investments on behalf of the people of Canada in industries that are making a real difference in the prosperity and the standard of living of Canadians. We are investing in the future.

However, I do want to congratulate the hon. member or a member of his staff on their ability to use the Internet.

[Technology Partnerships Canada, October 7th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that there is an ongoing audit process. The Minister of Industry and the government support that process. We will continue to support that audit process. We look forward to that process being completed. In the interim, I would remind the members of the House how important it is that we let the auditors do their work.

[Automobile Industry, October 7th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian auto industry is competing and succeeding globally because the government has been investing in the Canadian auto industry, and the benefits for that auto industry are in fact spread across the country.

We are working to develop a better Canadian auto strategy. The government and the industry minister are absolutely focused on making that happen. I am proud to be part of a government that is making the investments in the future of our country and in an auto industry that is a world beater.

[Sponsorship Program, October 4th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, once again, it is a public fact that there are criminal proceedings against a number of individuals, including Mr. Guité and Mr. Brault. We are cooperating with all RCMP investigations, both as the Department of Public Works and the Government of Canada. We will continue to cooperate fully but we will not comment on specific investigations of the RCMP. That would be inappropriate. That hon. member, who once claimed to be a lawyer, ought to understand that.

[Sponsorship Program, October 3rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that Public Works, in fact the entire government, cooperates fully with the RCMP in any investigation and we will continue to do exactly that.

[Sponsorship Program, September 29th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that Public Works is cooperating fully with any RCMP investigation. That is the right thing to do. Beyond that, Public Works is cooperating fully with the Gomery commission by providing over 28 million pages of documents to the Gomery commission.

We are interested in getting to the truth. We are interested in supporting the work of Justice Gomery and working with the RCMP to do the right thing on behalf of Canadians.

All they are doing over there is in fact bringing disrepute on the work of Justice Gomery and disrepute on the important work of the RCMP.