House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 71% of the vote.
Sponsorship Program November 5th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the fact is that any intervention was to broaden the competition to ensure greater competition, greater value for tax dollars and better results for Canadians. That is not interfering in the contractual process. That is creating more competition, which is exactly what we ought to do in our procurement processes on an ongoing basis.
Sponsorship Program November 5th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, again, yesterday the witness admitted he was wrong. It would be great if the opposition were, from time to time, able to admit when it is wrong and stop besmirching and impugning the reputations of individuals who do not deserve this type of treatment: to have their reputations sullied by unfair and inaccurate commentary on a day to day basis by members of Parliament who were chosen by their electors to represent their interests and defend Canadian values. This is absolutely inappropriate, and opposition members ought to do the right thing and let Justice Gomery do his work.
Sponsorship Program November 5th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, again, the hon. member is making the same error by commenting on selective testimony. Again, I will bring to her attention the truth that was in today's Ottawa Citizen . It said:
After reviewing documents, [the witness] told the inquiry he had confused this memo and Finance had not meddled in the competition afterall
He went further and said, “I want to correct what I said this morning. No department interfered in the selection process. I just want to clear it for the record”.
Why does the opposition not wait for the full truth instead of continuing to make these errors and attack people's reputations?
Sponsorship Program November 5th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, again the hon. member is commenting on yesterday morning's testimony. Presumably, he was having his nap in the afternoon and he missed the afternoon's testimony. The witness yesterday afternoon said, “I want to correct what he had said in the morning. No department interfered in the selection process”.
Perhaps if the hon. member wants to comment on any testimony in the morning, he ought to stop napping in the afternoons and watch the full testimony, or even better, wait for the full report of Justice Gomery and look forward to receiving the truth on behalf of Canadians.
Sponsorship Program November 5th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, yesterday opposition members accused Terrie O'Leary of interfering in the awarding of a contract and in fact they were wrong. That was false. They are using the floor of the House of Commons and the rights and privileges of members of Parliament to conduct some sort of witch hunt to scurrilously attack the reputations of individuals who do not deserve this kind of treatment.
If the opposition members were doing their job, they would actually respect their positions, respect the independence of a judicial inquiry and allow Justice Gomery to do his work.
Sponsorship Program November 5th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I missed the first part of the hon. member's question, but I think he might be considered to be a defective politician in fact.
I draw to the hon. member's attention an article in today's Globe and Mail :
Judge Gomery said his mandate does not include polling contracts, but he said he will think about admitting further evidence on the Finance contracts to clear the air.
He went further. He said specifically:
The mention of political interference by the Department of Finance makes headlines. If the statement is made and is left there, it is left to the media and the public to speculate.
He further stated that next week he will be making a decision about this issue.
Sponsorship Program November 5th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, again the opposition members are getting it wrong. They were wrong on Francis Fox. They were wrong when they accused the Prime Minister of personally making phone calls. They were wrong in saying that only Liberals knew about the sponsorship program. Yesterday they wrongfully accused Terrie O'Leary of intervening in the awarding of a contract.
Why do they not just get it right, support the work of Justice Gomery and stop, on a day to day basis, making errors by manipulatively commenting on selective testimony?
Sponsorship Program November 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I will not comment on day to day testimony. However, I will point out that testimony can vary widely. In fact today we had somebody before the Gomery commission who said this afternoon, “I want to correct what I said this morning. No department interfered in the selection process”. We have an example where one afternoon's testimony contradicts the same individual's morning testimony. That is what happens if we comment on day to day testimony.
Sponsorship Program November 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Finance has responded to this. This was a matter handled by public servants in finance and public works. There was a legitimate difference of opinion and that difference of opinion was based on the whole idea of best value versus lowest price.
Let it be noted that the NDP is attacking the integrity of our good pubic servants in Canada. We are proud of our public servants and of the work they do. I would ask the hon. member from the NDP to stop besmirching the reputation of our public service.
Sponsorship Program November 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the opposition is making a grievous error by commenting on day to day testimony.
Part of a headline in today's Ottawa Citizen actually said, “Testimony differs dramatically”, and it does. On a day to day basis the testimony varies. One testimony will be contradicted by another. One document in fact can be contradicted by another. That is why it is so critically important that we allow Justice Gomery to do his work, not interfere in a judicial inquiry, and respect that independence.