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The hon. member for Hull—Aylmer.
Mr. Speaker, the government has begun announcing staff cutbacks in many departments:
Human Resources, Canadian Heritage, Environment Canada.
It appears that these staff cuts have been made arbitrarily
and that the government is no longer even trying to justify its actions to Canadians.
The government really seems to be making things up as it goes along.
Mr. Speaker, can the President of the Treasury Board explain
the logic behind these cuts, that is, if there is any logic involved?
The Hon. President of the Treasury Board.
Mr. Speaker, I think the honourable member is referring to
the report of the Parliamentary Budget Officer which takes a look at part of our plans
to ensure that we live within our means as departments,
but it does not tell the full picture.
Mr. Speaker, I can tell you our plans are on stream.
We are looking at rationalizing some services,
but also delivering those services to the taxpayers in a better way.
That's our promise to taxpayers.
That's what we ran on during the most recent election campaign
and we have a strong mandate to do so.
The hon. member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie.
Mr. Speaker, now that we know that the President of the Treasury Board is able to stand,
I would like to give him a third opportunity
to tell Canadians about his use of the border infrastructure fund
for projects in his riding, which is 300 kilometres from the border.
Mr. Speaker, how can the President of the Treasury Board tell Canadians
that he is going to cut their services
when he himself is responsible for wasting $50 million of taxpayers' money?
The Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Well, Mr. Speaker, I've spoken to this issue before. Some hon. members: Oh!
Let me say this, Mr. Speaker. There were 32 infrastructure projects that went forward,
including resurfacing a runway at the airport in North Bay,
repaving a provincial highway, and building a community centre.
All of those projects came in on time. All of those projects came in under budget.
The Auditor General raised some legitimate concerns and observations
on how the government can do a better job, and this government has accepted those recommendations.
The hon. member for Timmins—James Bay.
Mr. Speaker, when Canadians pay their taxes,
they expect that their hard-earned dollars are going to be treated with respect.
Now if you look at the President of the Treasury Board and how he blew through
$50 million on glow sticks and gazebos,
it's as if the three amigos, the mayor, the hotel manager and the minister,
stuffed the largest porcine piñata ever conceived
and then whacked all those baubles and *** all over the hills of Muskoka.
When will the minister apologize for this abuse of the public trust?
The Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest when the new Leader of the Opposition said
that he was going to come to the House of Commons, come to Parliament
and raise the level of debate and I'm very disappointed by
the comments made by the member opposite. Let me say this Mr. Speaker.
With respect to the legacy fund, there were 32 infrastructure projects.
They were all public infrastructure projects similar to projects done
right across the country from coast to coast to coast.
Every single dollar was accounted for. All the projects are now in the municipalities',
airport authorities', or the provincial governments' hands,
and all providing good value for taxpayers.
The hon. member for Timmins—James Bay.
Well the NDP would certainly like to raise the level of debate,
but to do that we would have to raise up somebody from the dead there.
He seems to be either hiding in the doghouse
or he was put in the doghouse since he got whacked by the Auditor General.
So I'd like to ask him a question again.
When Chuck Guité played around with public funds for partisan gain, he got sent to the jail.
When the minister from Muskoka played around with public funds for partisan gain,
he got the keys to the Treasury Board.
What kind of message does this send to Canadians?
When will this minister stand up in this House
and be accountable for his misrepresentation of public funds?
The Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, I deeply regret those slanders and character assassinations.
I'd expected better from the New Democratic Party.