Siobhan Coady

[Human Resources and Skills Development, March 29th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's Office recently warned political staff to stop meddling in access to information requests.

Two weeks later, the office of the Minister of Human Resources obstructed an information request about a $5 million advertising campaign during the Olympics. The media had a simple question. Department officials had the answer. The minister's office intervened and hid the truth.

Is the minister embarrassed by the waste of taxpayers' money, or does she not believe that Canadians deserve the truth?

[The Environment, March 24th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Atlantic coastal action program involves 16 non-profit environmental organizations. It trains and motivates volunteers to protect our environment.

Last year, 1,100 volunteers worked more than 35,000 hours in environmental action. The program does applied research, educational campaigns and communications. It is an essential and important organization, and it is about to lose its funding.

Will the minister now confirm funding for ACAP, or is he going to fail to protect the environment yet again?

[March 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I guess members of the government did not get the memo, as it was perhaps redacted.

It is too bad the government does not enforce its legislation to ensure that we have meaningful access to information. Here I note that Robert Marleau, who was the former Access to Information Commissioner, thought the 30-day rule had become the exception rather than the rule.

We really do need to have leadership in this country to ensure open, effective and transparent government. I ask that the government do so.

[March 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, on March 4 I asked a question of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has declined to direct his ministers to be open, transparent and accountable, when it comes to access to information requests.

This stands in stark contrast to the attitude in the United States under President Barack Obama. He really took leadership. On the President's first day in office, he issued an executive order and two presidential memoranda, suggesting and establishing a presumption of disclosure of information that is requested under the freedom of information act.

In Canada, a troubling situation has developed. Requests for information about what the government is doing are being delayed, disrupted and, really, are harming Canadian democracy.

For example, three Conservative cabinet ministers are under investigation by the Information Commissioner. However, the Information Commissioner has had to go even further than that. I quote:

The scope and focus of the systemic investigation will be expanded to examine whether political interference in the processing of access requests is a cause of delay or unduly restricts disclosure under the Act, including any reviews and approvals by the offices of ministers or institutional heads.

This is a very serious issue. Not only do we not have an open, transparent and accountable government but now we have to have our Information Commissioner going forward to see if there is some kind of interference by a minister's office, by staff, by members of other parties, for us to get information.

The Information Commissioner is in place to assist individuals and organizations who believe that federal institutions have not respected their rights under the Access to Information Act. She has been very active because of the government's unwillingness to be accountable to Canadians.

For example, most recently, it was reported that a staff member from the office of the then public works minister had attempted to unrelease information that had been requested by a reporter. A CP reporter, who broke the story on how his access request was handled by the office of the minister, is a veteran access to information user and has been using the system since it came into force in 1983. He said that, in his opinion, the access to information system has pretty much ground to a halt and that he has never seen the system so broken.

A March 2008 access to information request, for example, by the Liberal caucus research bureau, for all documents concerning Canada's decision to stop Afghan detainee transfers, was denied in December 2009. That is 639 days later, after the issue had become a full-blown political controversy for the Conservative government. The request was denied because the reports could be used in anticipated or contemplated litigation.

I want to ask again. When is the Prime Minister going to direct his ministers to be open, transparent and accountable? What do they have to hide?

[Interim Supply, March 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Chair, I would like to ask the President of the Treasury Board whether the bill is presented in its usual form.

(On clause 2)

[SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES (C), 2009-10, March 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Chair, I would like to ask the President of the Treasury Board if the bill is presented in its usual form.

[Atlantic Coastal Action Program, March 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Atlantic coastal action program is a unique community-based program that mobilizes local communities into action on environmental and developmental challenges. The goal is to help restore and sustain watersheds and adjacent coastal areas. ACAP recognizes that local organizations are the most effective champions to achieve sustainability in their communities.

ACAP involves 14 non-profit organizations in Atlantic Canada. In 2008 alone, over 3,000 students and youth participated in soil and water sampling projects, environmental education, outreach and engagement initiatives. Over 1,100 volunteers throughout Atlantic Canada received training and subsequently provided over 35,000 hours of time in advancing the region's environmental and conservation initiatives.

Given this record of success, the people of Atlantic Canada want this program to continue. The government has yet to confirm funding and I ask that it does so.

[Government Advertising, March 22nd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, a note that has been clearly self-serving. Every dollar the government wastes promoting itself is a dollar not spent on services to Canadians or to reduce the massive deficit Conservatives have created.

When the Ethics Commissioner was asked about the partisan nature of the government's advertising, the only defence submitted was from a lawyer from the Conservative Party. Clearly it puts it selfish interests first.

How can the Conservative government justify such outrageous spending on self-promotion when it is doing so little on jobs, on pensions, on child care?

[Government Advertising, March 22nd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, for the past year, we have seen millions upon millions of dollars wasted on government advertising, seen on everything from the Super Bowl to the Academy Awards. Now those evaluating the advertising program note that one of the primary goals of the campaign was to promote the Conservative government.

Will the Prime Minister stop this shameful waste of tax dollars and invest in things that Canadians care about, like jobs and pensions?

[Resumption of debate on Address in Reply, March 11th, 2010]

Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague did an admirable job as a representative at the Olympics and will do so as well at the upcoming Paralympics. I wish her well on that.

With regard to “spent wisely, well and accountable”, I am quite concerned about some of the increases to the Privy Council Office, which, as I said in my speech, are increasing quite substantively. A tremendous amount of money has been added to that budget. Now that we are going to have a cap put on budgets, I think we will have a cap put on the higher level.