44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 5, 2024 02:00PM
- Jun/5/24 2:56:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that food prices are difficult for many families across this country, but they got a bit of good news today, and 4.75 is the number that Canadians will remember. However, if the member really wants to help, she should ask all the members, especially on the opposition, to support us in pushing Walmart and Costco to adopt the grocery code of conduct.
On this side of the House, we have been pushing for more competition, because we know that more competition will bring stabilizing prices, will bring more choice for consumers, and will make sure that, over time, Canadians will win on that. We are committed at every step of the way to fight for Canadians. I know that the Conservatives will vote against that, but we will fight for Canadians.
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- Jun/5/24 2:57:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as we mark the beginning of Pride season, it is a time to celebrate the 2SLGBTQ+ community and reflect on their accomplishments. However, we know that the rise of hate directed toward this community has made many feel unsafe. Could the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth update the House on our government's efforts to create a safer and more inclusive Canada?
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- Jun/5/24 2:57:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for her advocacy.
As we raised the Pride flag a couple of days ago, I announced $1.5 million to offset security costs for Pride festivals right across the country. It is not the kind of announcement I ever want to make, but the queer community feels directly what security agencies tell us: Hate is on the rise.
The community asked for help, and we responded. At a time when we are seeing less support for queer communities, our government will never waver. On this side of the House, we support Canadians, no matter who they are, for being their authentic selves.
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- Jun/5/24 2:58:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, who is Randy?
The Minister of Employment has a 50% stake in a PPE company embroiled in allegations of fraud. Text messages from the COO reveal that a partner named “Randy” was involved in one of those shady business deals. The minister assures us that it is not him, yet somehow he is unable to identify who the other Randy is amongst a handful of employees.
So, again, who is Randy?
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- Jun/5/24 2:59:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, of course Canada has among the toughest, most stringent ethics and conflict of interest provisions in the world for public office holders. The minister in question appeared yesterday before committee for one hour and answered all of those questions.
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- Jun/5/24 2:59:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there is no trace of this other Randy. Global News cannot find him, the COO claims there is this other Randy, but, conveniently, has forgotten his last name and the minister cannot identify him among a handful of employees. This is a farce. Everyone knows who Randy is.
Will the minister just stand up and admit it is him?
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- Jun/5/24 3:00:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I will repeat it in French for the member: Canada has among the most stringent ethics and conflict of interest provisions in the world for public office holders.
The minister in question appeared yesterday before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics for one hour and answered all of those questions.
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- Jun/5/24 3:00:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the NDP-Liberal minister from Edmonton wants Canadians to think that he is not breaking the law, but he was cashing cheques from a company that was lobbying his government and a company that he owns 50% of was winning government contracts using his name as the minister. He is not allowed to do either.
In a Global News report this week, text messages reveal someone named Randy at his company was part of a $500,000 fraud. The minister said it was not him, that it was the other Randy. Of course, it was.
Who is the other Randy and what is his last name?
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- Jun/5/24 3:01:03 p.m.
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I would caution members to be careful in using the proper names of individuals in the chamber.
The hon. government House leader.
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- Jun/5/24 3:01:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I, of course, just answered that question, so I would invite the member to move on.
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- Jun/5/24 3:01:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have the same suspicion as the Speaker does, that in fact there is perhaps some concern about using the member's name, but while the government House leader wants to hide his member, I am going to run through a scenario here. What are the chances that the other Randy is just the minister from Edmonton in a rubber nose and a stick-on moustache? I would say about 100%. He broke the Conflict of Interest Act, he broke the Lobbying Act, he broke the Criminal Code.
We want to know. Will the real Randy please stand up?
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- Jun/5/24 3:02:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I, of course, just answered all—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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- Jun/5/24 3:02:22 p.m.
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Order. That is enough.
The hon. government House leader.
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- Jun/5/24 3:02:28 p.m.
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Indeed, Mr. Speaker, I thank you for that. That is beneath the dignity of this place, where we presume all members are honourable.
The member in question spent an hour at committee yesterday answering questions from the member and other members. Of course, I know the member will continue to ask those questions and I will give the same answer. We have a very strict code of conflict of interest and ethics in this country and all ministers are expected to comply with that.
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- Jun/5/24 3:03:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Auditor General confirmed what has been suspected for months. She tabled three reports, each with the same damning finding: The Liberals have completely lost control of the machinery of government. Contracts are being awarded without tenders and without justification, payments are being made to companies before anything is even delivered, funds are being paid out for ineligible projects, and money is being spent without oversight.
This brings us back to the question we have been asking for months. While the Liberals are busy trying to take over governing Quebec and the provinces, who is governing Canada?
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- Jun/5/24 3:03:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for allowing me the opportunity to thank the Auditor General of Canada once again for her important work on this and many other files.
Yesterday, we heard the Auditor General reach findings that are very similar, and at times identical, to the findings of reports that the government published about a year ago. Based on these previous shared findings, we have been taking action for over a year now to end the standing offers with McKinsey and all similar companies.
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- Jun/5/24 3:04:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the McKinsey case reveals a culture of decadence within the federal government.
The Auditor General has confirmed that, out of the $200 million in contracts awarded to McKinsey, 71% were untendered, 58% were unmonitored and, for 24% of the contracts audited, the federal government has no idea what was done. This is scandalous.
The report makes only one recommendation: that all federal organizations identify actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
Will the government finally take real action?
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- Jun/5/24 3:04:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General's recommendations are indeed very similar, and often identical, to those that have already been published and have been known for several months.
We have been taking significant action for more than a year now on the issues my colleague mentioned. It bears saying not only that we will continue the work, but that it is important to do so to ensure the integrity of all procurement processes and the confidence Canadians have in those processes.
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- Jun/5/24 3:05:27 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General released another report yesterday about another Liberal scandal. This time, it is was about Sustainable Development Technology Canada's green fund.
According to the report, administrators gave themselves funding 186 times, $123 million was paid out inappropriately, and half of that should never have been paid out in the first place.
There is only one way to get to the bottom of this situation. Does the minister agree with our proposal to have the RCMP investigate?
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- Jun/5/24 3:05:57 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives, that is for sure. We have been very clear. The moment the allegations were made, we launched investigations, one by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton and one by the law firm McCarthy Tétrault.
Members know that this is an organization created by Parliament 20 years ago that operates at arm's length from the government. In light of the allegations, we suspended the funding, and the chair of the board and the CEO both resigned.
Now we have a new governance model. The activities will be transferred to the National Research Council. We are committed to the highest standards of governance and that is exactly—
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