44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 4, 2024 10:00AM
- Jun/4/24 2:39:49 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for giving me another opportunity to thank the Auditor General for her very important work. The findings of her report are similar to those we already have seen and heard from Government of Canada agencies and committees of the House of Commons in recent months.
In light of the previous findings, we have been taking action for over a year to put an end to all the standing offers, including those with companies similar to McKinsey.
82 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:40:26 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, this is the result of the Liberals' actions: The Liberal green fund and its directors, appointed by the Prime Minister, have lined the pockets of their Liberal friends.
This morning, the Auditor General revealed that the Liberal green fund awarded $59 million to projects that were not even eligible for grants, all in full view of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. As usual, the minister did nothing. We now know that the minister was aware of it.
Will the minister go ask his friends to pay the money they were not entitled to receive back to Canadians?
102 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:40:56 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are just waking up. It must be the sun. As I said in English: the moment we heard of allegations, we launched the investigation. While the Conservatives were sleeping, we launched investigations with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton and McCarthy Tétrault. We worked with the Auditor General because we wanted to get to the bottom of things.
The governance model we are putting forward will allow us to kick-start the organization and ensure that we can fund small and medium-sized businesses that are tackling climate change. We are going to rebuild trust and support small and medium-sized businesses in Canada.
108 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:41:42 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of people who might be watching, the report was tabled yesterday. No one was allowed to see it beforehand. Only one Bloc Québécois member sits on the committee, and that is the member for Montarville. Revealing the names in question is strictly prohibited.
I encourage the Liberal caucus in particular to look within and recognize that members of their own caucus may be under foreign influence. At their next caucus meeting, I suggest they talk among themselves so that those involved can be identified.
93 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:42:22 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday and repeated again today, it is important to be very careful when publicly discussing intelligence in any detail.
As the Prime Minister correctly pointed out, we are the only government that has brought in a series of measures that have evolved over the years to strengthen our ability to detect foreign interference. I have a great deal of confidence in our security and intelligence services and the RCMP. I know they are going to do a great job doing the work that needs to be done.
92 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:43:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, these are troubled times. There are troubling situations in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Mexico and just about everywhere on the planet. Add to that global warming, institutionalized violence and war, and these are troubled times indeed.
It is easy to understand why people from around the world are seeking refuge. That means we find ourselves with record numbers of asylum seekers, people waiting for work permits. They are forced to rely on food banks and social assistance.
As usual, Ottawa is asleep at the switch. When is this government going to take the issue of asylum seekers seriously?
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:43:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for his very fair question.
It is true that Canada, like many other countries, is facing a record number of asylum claims. This year is another one for the record books. That does not mean we are not taking things seriously. On the contrary, we are stepping up our efforts to ensure that the people who come here, fleeing war and violence, are well received and properly supported. We need Quebec's support.
I want to point out how important it is that the Bloc Québécois continue to advocate to ensure that asylum seekers are welcomed in Quebec and Canada.
111 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:44:21 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, there is a cost related to asylum seekers. There is also a responsibility. We have to house them, care for them, educate them and provide them with French classes. We have to allow them to work, something that Ottawa is incapable of doing.
Asylum seekers currently represent 20% of social assistance recipients in Quebec. The Prime Minister says, “come to Canada, oh downtrodden of the earth”. He forgets to tell them that once they arrive, he will not lift a finger for them. He cannot even give them a work permit in less than 30 days.
Is that the Liberal definition of being welcoming?
108 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:45:00 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago, the member across the way claimed that it took six, seven or eight months, I no longer remember how long. People are not entitled to a work permit before three months. We are doing our best to give them one.
Obviously, money earned can go a long way. It is clear that we can do better. It is clear that we want to do better. Obviously, in light of the record number of claims, we are going to need the support of the provinces, including Quebec. I very much welcome that support.
97 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:45:33 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General report proves the Prime Minister is not worth the cost or the corruption. The NDP-Liberal government spent $200 million on McKinsey, which is just another example of the Prime Minister favouring his insider friends. The AG stated this showed a flagrant disregard for procurement rules, as the government sole-sourced with no justification, and competitive processes were changed to favour McKinsey. The clear favouritism is just one more example of the government choosing its friends over integrity.
Why has the Prime Minister been caught red-handed, time and time again, giving his friends lucrative contracts?
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:46:10 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for asking this important question, which allows me to thank the Auditor General for her important work on this topic.
The report comes to similar conclusions to those of the report that was released by the government last year. Based on those previous findings, we have been acting for more than a year to end the standing offers with McKinsey and all similar companies, as well as introducing stricter requirements for departments with their own contracting authorities.
83 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:46:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost or corruption. Dominic Barton, the former global head of McKinsey, was hand-picked by the PM to be the Canadian ambassador to China and the chair of the advisory council on economic growth. Therefore, it is no surprise that, after 2016, McKinsey contracting began to go up and up, with few signs of stopping. He even joined a meeting between McKinsey and the Canada Infrastructure Bank while he was the ambassador, and he hid this from members of committee.
Why should Canadians tolerate a Prime Minister who promotes his rich friends and a government run by McKinsey?
107 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:47:26 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to repeat what I just said in the other official language. We thank the Auditor General of Canada for her important work on this file.
The report reaches conclusions similar to those in the report that was released by the government last year. Nevertheless, we will continue to take the findings into account. For example, standing offers with McKinsey and all similar companies were cancelled a year ago, and we will continue to implement stricter requirements for departments that do their own contracting.
88 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:48:03 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General's report proves that, after nine years, the Prime Minister is not worth the cost or corruption. In her audit of McKinsey, the AG found that the Liberal government broke the rules, showed clear favouritism and could not demonstrate value for money.
The Prime Minister needs to take responsibility. Almost $200 million was awarded to McKinsey. Contracts were rigged, Liberal insiders got rich and taxpayers are on the hook.
Will the Prime Minister finally ban McKinsey from government contracting?
84 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:48:41 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I have answered this question multiple times now. I would just add that, in addition to what I have said, these contracts have been closely examined several times, including by the Auditor General. No indication of political interference was ever found.
However, speaking of contracts, may I talk about dental care, about which the Conservative leader has nothing to say, because he believes and claims that it does not exist? Two million seniors in Canada have already registered for dental. Now, why is a Conservative leader misinforming and hurting seniors by telling them it does not exist?
99 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:49:23 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General's report proves once again that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost or the corruption.
Now, Liberals love McKinsey; apparently, all is fair in love and government contracting. Most of the $200 million in McKinsey contracts did not follow the rules and, in almost half of cases, it was not clear that the contract was needed. In some cases, the government even rigged the process to favour McKinsey.
Why do the Liberals show such affection for McKinsey but such disdain for Canadian taxpayers?
90 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:50:00 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, that question has already been answered several times by my colleagues. However, I am glad to hear the Conservatives, albeit obliquely, talking about income inequality in our society. It is a concern that we share.
The good news for the Conservatives is that they have the opportunity to support us and to support our increase in the capital gains inclusion rate, which is a way to ask those at the very top to help the Canadian middle class. Let us see if the Conservatives will do it.
89 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:50:40 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, for years now, customs and border services officers have been seeking retirement benefits similar to those enjoyed by their law enforcement counterparts. This is about justice and respect for these workers, who keep us safe.
A committee has been examining the matter for three years. The Treasury Board president received recommendations in December. It has been radio silence ever since. These officers could go on strike 48 hours from now, on Thursday.
Why are the Liberals still dragging their feet when it comes to standing up for workers?
90 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:51:18 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, that is not true. We are at the table. We are pursuing talks because an agreement that is fair to taxpayers and public servants is crucial.
We are always there for the public service and for a very just and equitable agreement. We are there.
47 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/4/24 2:51:56 p.m.
- Watch
Uqaqtittiji, Nunavummiut already pay some of the highest airfares in the world. The lowest airfare in 2023 from Ottawa to Grise Fiord was over $11,000. Even worse is that baggage fees recently went up, ripping off northerners even more. This is all happening under the Liberals' watch, when they promised that airline costs would not go up in the north.
Flights are a lifeline in Nunavut. Why is the government letting airlines gouge Nunavummiut for essential travel?
78 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
