House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 43% of the vote.
Government Services February 13th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I would like to correct the hon. member. I invite her to read the public accounts that are tabled before the chamber. I invite her to read the government estimates that are tabled from time to time and with regularity. They will indeed confirm that our budget is concentrated on reducing overhead and back office operations. That is what we promised the people of Canada. That is what we delivered on because we believe in growth, jobs and opportunity.
Parliamentary Budget Officer February 11th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I have said in this place that there are numerous methods of accountability that we take seriously in the chamber, be it the estimates, the public accounts or the budget process. However, we also want a parliamentary budget officer who is non-partisan and a credible source of opinion on fiscal matters. I understand that the Library of Parliament, an institution of 100-plus years in this place, has retained a search firm. We welcome its deliberations, but we will not see any changes further from that.
Parliamentary Budget Officer February 11th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I have already stated clearly in the House that we want a Parliamentary Budget Officer who is impartial and who can give credible opinions on budgetary matters.
The Parliamentary Librarian has hired a headhunting firm. We have no intention of removing the PBO’s office from the purview of the Library of Parliament.
Parliamentary Budget Officer February 7th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I want to again assure the House that we want to see a parliamentary budget office that is non-partisan and a credible source of opinion on fiscal matters. We understand that the parliamentary library, an institution with over a hundred years of service to this chamber, is retaining a search firm. We respect that process.
I would direct the hon. member, if she is worried about what the budget will say, to listen to the budget speech, whenever that is delivered, and to the public accounts and the estimates of the Government of Canada.
Parliamentary Budget Officer February 7th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, of course we want an impartial parliamentary budget office that is a credible source of opinions on fiscal matters.
The Library of Parliament has hired a headhunting firm, as it should. We are respect this process and we want the opposition to do the same.
Government Priorities February 5th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, on the subject of advertising, first of all, advertising this year is 46% below 2009-2010. As I mentioned earlier, in comparison with the last full year of the last Liberal government, way back in 2005, which spent $111 million, we are well below that.
I would just say to the hon. member that we are here to communicate with Canadians on issues that are important to them, like public health issues, economic issues and tax issues, and we will continue to do so.
Government Communications February 5th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, what I can say from the last reported amount presented to Parliament is that we spent $83.3 million on essential advertising, which is a lot less than the $111 million spent by the previous Liberal government in its last year of power.
When it comes to credit cards and lights out, I can tell the hon. member that his party's plan for a $21 billion carbon tax means that nobody will have any lights on.
Government Communications February 5th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the government is responsible for informing Canadians about the important programs and services offered to them.
The government has this responsibility, and advertising is an essential means for informing Canadians about important issues, such as temporary stimulus measures, tax credits and public health issues.
Ethics January 31st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I am not doing that at all. In fact, as I just mentioned in this chamber, if there is wrongdoing, if a public servant comes across any form of wrongdoing, we not only expect that public servant to come to the public, we welcome that. We also have certain ethical standards, certain standards of behaviour that are part of the code of values and ethics of the public sector, which the public sector was consulted on, and we also expect public servants to uphold those high values and ethical standards on behalf of the Canadian public.
Ethics January 31st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, we developed a code of ethics with the public service, with broad consultation, and the particular code of ethics is in line with the code of values and ethics of the public sector, which expects certain standards of ethical behaviour.
On this side of the House, if there is a whistleblower who has found any wrongdoing, we would welcome and indeed expect that whistleblower to bring this to the attention of the public and of relevant authorities.