Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
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Questions on the Order Paper March 4th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Questions on the Order Paper March 1st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Government Response to Petitions March 1st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to nine petitions.
Questions on the Order Paper February 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Government Response to Petitions February 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 29 petitions.
Motions for Papers February 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers be allowed to stand.
Questions on the Order Paper February 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Government Response to Petitions February 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 14 petitions.
Questions on the Order Paper February 26th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Privilege February 25th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I must say, at the outset, that I totally reject the premise on which the member opposite is raising his point of privilege. Clearly, when the minister has responded to questions from members of the opposition, she has been quite clear in stating, without question, that the government and the department in question has not placed quotas on any of the employees. I certainly believe that it is a laudable goal, and I hope all members agree with me that it is a laudable goal, for any government to try to save money, and particularly to try to find ways to stop fraud from occurring.
The minister has stated on many occasions that the department has already saved not millions of dollars, not hundreds of millions of dollars, but close to half a billion dollars in savings through stopping the fraud that had been occurring when EI claimants were wrongfully claiming for EI benefits. I also suggest that it is a laudable goal for this government, as it would be for any government, to try to make sure that in future, as we move forward, we continue to ensure that all EI claimants who ask the government for EI payments are actually doing so legitimately. Not to be diligent would be denying Canadians who play by the rules and currently receive EI benefits the ability to receive the money in a straightforward and proper manner.
I would suggest to the member opposite that the minister, when responding to questions from the opposition, was being quite forthright and was not trying to mislead the House whatsoever. Therefore, members opposite cannot claim privilege, because, in fact, their duties and responsibilities as members of Parliament have not been impeded.
I would close by saying that the matter of privilege the member opposite raises is obviously serious. Any time any member raises a question of privilege, it is a serious matter. I would therefore ask you, Mr. Speaker, to allow the minister in question an appropriate opportunity, at her earliest convenience, to respond in further detail to the question of privilege just made.