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OTTAWA - (Web posted May 6, 2002 @ 5 p.m.) -
Prime Minister Jean Chretien linked the spending of millions of taxpayer's
dollars to promote Canada in Quebec to a decline in that province's separatist
agenda in the House of Commons on Monday.
In a meandering response to an Opposition
question about Ottawa's multi-million dollar visibility program, which is responsible
for promoting Canada to Canadians, Chretien said the program has helped to erode
Quebec's independence movement.
"The danger of separation is much less
than it was," the prime minister said during Question Period.
On June 12, 1995 a mere 50.58 per cent of
Quebec residents voted to remain in Canada. The close vote shocked much of
English Canada, and Canadian Alliance Leader John Reynolds said the results left
Chretien "panicked" and willing to write blank cheques for the
visibility program.
"There's no question about it they darn
near lost this country and they're just throwing money at flags and friends and
it hasn't worked," said Reynolds.
Since March, aspects of the program have
been scrutinized by Opposition MPs, Auditor General Shelia Fraser and in the
days ahead the RCMP may be asked to get involved.
That's because Public Works Minister Don
Boudria now has Fraser's investigative report, which he requested in March, of
two contracts the federal government awarded to the Quebec-based advertising
firm Groupaction Inc.
Fraser's report is expected to contain a
recommendation that the RCMP launch its own investigation into the affair.
In February 1999 Ottawa paid the company
about $550,000 for a report on how government could enhance its visibility. In
October the company supplied a second report, for which it was paid about
$575,000, that studied the impact of federal government sponsorships. The
government has admitted it couldn't find the February report, and
company-supplied documents Boudria produced to prove it existed earlier this
year resembled the October report.
Boudria said officials in his department
were examining the AG's findings Monday afternoon, and he planned to make it
public on Wednesday.
Reynolds said if the minister had a copy of
the document, all Parliamentarians should have received the report too.
"(The auditor general) is an officer of
the House. I would have like to have seen it come to all members of this House,
and not give Mr. Boudria two days to decide how he's going to answer the
questions," Reynolds said.
It's also clear Opposition MPs won't be
satisfied with just a police investigation. NDP leader Alexa McDonough called
for a full public inquiry to shed some light on too many "unanswered
questions."
Tory leader Joe Clark also asked the
government to strike an independent public inquiry immediately to investigate
all aspects of the federal government's contracting rules.
During Question Period, the prime minister
repeated that his government has remained scandal free during its three terms in
office, and that if the auditor general's report indicates criminal activity
there will be an investigation
"If someone has done something criminal
of course the RCMP will be called," he said.
Read these PoliticsWatch story
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challenges Chretien to restore Canadians' confidence in government
Ottawa
has an appetite for transparency, says Goodale
Chretien
to examine guidelines for ministers with leadership dreams
Nystrom
wants answers about campaign financing
Alliance
questions Martin about campaign financing
Opposition
chastises Liberals over purchase of ministerial jets
Auditor
General to investigate Groupaction contracts
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