Mr. Rod Murphy (Churchill):

Madam Speaker, I rise under the provisions of Standing Order 43. In light of the fact that the Minister of Employment and Immigration two weeks ago announced the appointment of an unsuccessful Liberal federal candidate for Calgary West as his special adviser for western Canada, and that the same minister last week appointed three unsuccessful Liberal candidates in Manitoba to comprise a task force studying native employment and assistance programs, and that there are currently native people in Manitoba with knowledge and experience in these programs who were not appointed, 1 move, seconded by the hon. member for Winnipeg-Birds Hill (Mr. Blaikie):

That this House condemns the blatant abuse of ministerial powers by the Minister of Employment and Immigration in an attempt to revitalize the western Liberal party at the expense of the taxpayers of Canada.

Madam Speaker:

Such a motion requires the unanimous consent of the House. Is there unanimous consent?

Agreed.

No.

S)

Hon. Sinclair Stevens (York-Peel):

Madam Speaker, in the wake of the debacle last night, I should like to direct my question to the President of the Treasury Board. As that minister knows, under the Financial Administration Act the Treasury Board has clear responsibility for all government financial management, including expenditures.

Would the hon. gentleman tell the House whether the Treasury Board was fully familiarized with the statement made by the Minister of Finance prior to its delivery last night, including the expenditure jump of $7.9 billion, the

Oral Questions

greatest one-year jump in Canadian history; and, if so, did they approve it?

Hon. Donald J. Johnston (President of the Treasury Board):

Madam Speaker, it seems to me the statement made last night speaks for itself, and it is fully supported by Treasury Board.

Mr. Stevens:

Again to the President of the Treasury Board, who has indicated that, indeed, he is only a token President of the Treasury Board. Would he tell the House whether he agrees that the deficit announced last night-which amounts to more than $500 for every man, woman and child in this country-will, in fact, be most inflationary and will crowd out financing in other fields, including the private and public sectors?

Mr. Johnston:

It appears to me that that question would be more appropriately directed to the Minister of Finance, who is responsible for fiscal policy and for the over-all expenditure plan of the government. As he indicated in his comments last night, the expenditure plan is being fleshed out and will be available within a reasonable time.

Mr. Stevens:

I can only take it from that comment that the minister has not read section 5, in particular, of the Financial Administration Act, and that he does not know his responsibilities to this House.

Hear, hear!

Mr. Stevens:

The Treasury Board is responsible for financial management and expenditure. Does the minister not agree that unless he gets some clout in cabinet and starts trimming the expenditure of these big spenders, the only recourse open to the Minister of Finance is going to be to increase taxation in the country which will place a needless load on the citizens of Canada?

Mr. Johnston:

Let me assure the House that I am fully aware of my responsibilities as President of the Treasury Board. Unlike my predecessor, I have no intention of trying to usurp the position which is so ably handled by the Minister of Finance.

Hear, hear!

Mr. Johnston:

As a matter of fact, I shall be making a full statement during the debate on the throne speech concerning my own, personal philosophy toward my role as Treasury Board president, perhaps later this afternoon.

Hon. Perrin Beatty (Wellington-Dufferin-Simcoe):

Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the President of the Treasury Board. Last night's half-budget increases the federal deficit by fully $2.5 billion. Before he meekly agreed to that increase in the deficit, what specific programs did the minister insist be cut by the federal government?

April 22, 1980

Oral Questions

An hon. Miember: It was $3.7 billion.

Hon. Donald J. Johnston (President of the Treasury Board):

Madam Speaker, if I understand the question correctly, the hon. member is asking me what programs are to be cut in terms of the projected deficit which the numbers given last night suggested to the House.

First, I point out that last night's statement with respect to the deficit, as indicated in the information put forward by the Minister of Finance, does not take account of what other measures may be introduced subsequently this year, and does not take account of the negotiations which will be carried on by my colleague, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. It was clearly indicated last night by the Minister of Finance that that number, at this point, represents a maximum number. I can assure the hon. member that I am continuing with the responsible restraint measures which were begun by this government in 1975 and will continue-