House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 64% of the vote.
National Defence October 6th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up on the loss of Canadian military personnel in Afghanistan.
Canada was warned by an American commander over a year ago that the Iltis offered no protection against landmines. So bad was it that the Americans offered to supply their own armoured vehicles and Canadians were instructed not to patrol in the Iltis.
My question for the minister is very simple. Why has the government failed to supply Canadian troops with proper armoured vehicles?
Member for LaSalle--Émard October 2nd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, my question is pretty clear. It is whether this government will make its new leader accountable to the Canadian people. That is the question it will not answer.
The new Liberal leader is promising to spend taxpayers' money and to change legislation. He will have the power, as Prime Minister, but no accountability.
How will Canadians be able to hold the new Liberal leader accountable for all these promises and actions?
Member for LaSalle--Émard October 2nd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the House will note that the Deputy Prime Minister did not answer my question.
The new Liberal leader is hard at work running his parallel government, planning first ministers' meetings, working on the next budget, touring disaster sites and promising funds, and making all kinds of promises to other groups.
In other words, he is taking all of the power of the Prime Minister while refusing any accountability for the powers that go with that office.
I will give the Deputy Prime Minister another chance to answer my question. Is it true that the government will prorogue the House after the new Liberal leader is chosen so that he can continue to avoid questions on his policies?
Member for LaSalle--Émard October 2nd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, on November 14 the new Liberal leader will officially take his office. Two days later he will hold his first ministers' meeting.
This continues the pattern that he has had of running a phantom government, being a leader when it is convenient, being a peekaboo Prime Minister, not accountable to Canadians, and not accountable to this House.
My question for the government is really quite simple. Is the government still committed to being here in the House in November after the new Liberal leader is selected?
Member for LaSalle—Émard October 1st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I think the better marriage counsellor might be Aline but I will leave that to the Prime Minister's judgment.
The new Liberal leader might meet with the premiers. Yet according to the Prime Minister, the new leader is nothing more than a government backbencher.
Can the Prime Minister tell us whether he was invited to this meeting and whether, as Prime Minister, he intends to be there?
Member for LaSalle—Émard October 1st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I am more concerned about the political footballs that are being pushed around.
The government has told us that the member for LaSalle—Émard is a mere backbencher. Now he is acting as the intergovernmental affairs minister, setting up his own federal-provincial conferences. He is not a minister, not the prime minister and he should not be doing this.
If this individual wants to act like the prime minister why is he not in the House of Commons answering questions on government business?
Member for LaSalle—Émard October 1st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, we know that identity theft is a serious problem with the government. We have seen the problem in the revenue minister's department.
However we have a more serious example of identity theft. We apparently have someone running around the country saying that he is the prime minister and organizing first ministers meetings.
Does the Prime Minister think it is right that the new Liberal leader, someone he calls a mere backbencher in his government, would be setting a full first ministers conference for November 16?
Former Privacy Commissioner September 30th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, we should not just be asked for a few comments in the elected House.There should be a full parliamentary review of the actual appointees.
Mr. Speaker, today, the Auditor General's report noted, “a major breakdown of controls over financial management and the abuse of the public treasury. Appointments are not subject to review, there are few controls on spending and no one is accountable to the taxpayers or Parliament”.
What disciplinary measures is the government planning to take to prevent similar abuses in the future?
Former Privacy Commissioner September 30th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, while the government takes year after year to study this, employees are being abused. This should end right now and the government should be bringing in whistle-blower protection.
The Privacy Commissioner is just one example of an office that is appointed without the scrutiny of Parliament.
While in office, Mr. Radwanski apparently exhibited a blatant disregard for the rules and the law, a blatant disregard for employees, for taxpayers and for the reputation of Parliament itself.
In the future, will the government at least listen to the Auditor General and commit to a full parliamentary review for all appointees?
Former Privacy Commissioner September 30th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, today the Auditor General released her report on the former Privacy Commissioner.
The most disturbing finding about Mr. Radwanski is his treatment of employees. Employees apparently worked in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. There was a reign of terror. They were afraid to come forward and there was little or no protection for staff for trying to correct wrongdoing.
My question for the Prime Minister is simple. Does this not illustrate better than we ever could on this side why the Canadian Alliance and many others are demanding whistle-blower protection legislation and is it not about time this was introduced in the federal public service?