Mr. Rex Barnes

Who attended the joint Prime Minister's Office--Privy Council Office “Communications Coordination Group” meetings in 2001, 2002 and 2003; what are the names of the individual attendees, their official titles and the government ministries they represented?

Hon. John Godfrey (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Cities), Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, the Communications Secretariat of the Privy Council Office conducted a thorough search through both paper and electronic records. These records did not contain information regarding individuals who actually attended each weekly meeting of the Communication Coordination Group.

The group was composed of the following regular members:

The following officials were also regularly invited:

The Communications Coordination Group, CCG, did not hold any meetings after October 2001.

Mr. Peter MacKay

What contracts or sub-contracts were awarded to Groupaction Inc., Lafleur Communication Marketing, Gosselin Communication, Media/I.D.A. Vision, Communication Coffin, BCP, Groupe Everest and Groupe Polygone since June 1994, specifying the source, the department, Crown corporation or agency, the dollar amount, the date of each contract, the rationale and the procurement method?

Hon. Jacques Saada (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, as is well known, the government has already provided a considerable amount of related information to the public accounts committee in the context of its examination of chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the report of the Auditor General of November 2003 and is actively dealing with outstanding motions passed by the committee for additional information.

Question No. 49 is extremely broad. It appears to target all departments, agencies and crown corporations. In addition, it covers a period of almost 10 years, which makes the task all the more difficult given that, under applicable rules, federal departments must keep their records for a period of six years only.

Extensive work has already been done to collect the relevant information in answer to this question and to perform the required verification. However, and in spite of the extensive efforts invested so far, the work is not completed yet. More time is needed to perform the type of quality control that is necessary to ensure that the information provided to the House is as comprehensive and reliable as possible.

The government will provide a supplementary reply to this question as soon as the requested information is ready.

Mr. Inky Mark

With regard to the creation of the Department of Social Development: ( a ) what were the costs and locations of new or additional office space that has been acquired; ( b ) what were the costs of any renovations; ( c ) which firms conducted the renovations and what was the tendering process used; ( d ) what were the costs and particulars of any office equipment and technological equipment (including televisions and stereos); and ( e ) what is the operational budget allocated for the creation of the new department and what costs have been incurred to date?

Hon. Liza Frulla (Minister of Social Development, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), no new space was acquired in regard to the creation of Social Development Canada, SDC. To date, all related office space requirements have been satisfied from existing inventory, through the relocation of existing personnel, and the renovation of certain spaces. In response to (b), some renovation work has been undertaken at Place Vanier to provide office space resulting from the creation of SDC. As of March 29, 2004 approximately $382,000 in expenditures have been incurred for renovating office spaces at Place Vanier. In response to (c), all renovations have been performed through Public Works and Government Services Canada, PWGSC, under a memorandum of agreement. PWGSC, as the client service delivery organization supporting Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and SDC, contracted the work on a competitive basis through the building landlord, BONA Building Management. In response to (d), the following assets were purchased for the offices of the minister and the deputy minister of SDC and their staff:

In response to (e), the department has not received additional funding for the creation of the department nor has an operational budget been established for this purpose.

Hon. Roger Gallaway (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, if Questions Nos. 46, 47, 51, 52 and 53 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

Is that agreed?

Agreed.

Mr. Rex Barnes

Since 1993, what grants, contributions, contracts and/or loan guarantees made through a crown corporation, department, and/or agency of the government were received by Burrard Communications Inc., specifying, in each case, the source and dollar amount, the date made, the reason(s) for providing funding and the present status of the grant, contribution and/or loan guarantee (whether repaid, partially repaid, or unpaid, including the value(s) of any repayment(s)) and, in the case of contracts, specifying whether the contract has been fulfilled, whether it was tendered and any reason for limiting the tender?

Return tabled.

Mr. Rex Barnes

Since 1993, what grants, contributions, contracts and/or loan guarantees made through a crown corporation, department, and/or agency of the government were received by Pilothouse Public Affairs Group, specifying, in each case, the source and dollar amount, the date made, the reason(s) for providing funding and the present status of the grant, contribution and/or loan guarantee (whether repaid, partially repaid, or unpaid, including the value(s) of any repayment(s)) and, in the case of contracts, specifying whether the contract has been fulfilled, whether it was tendered and any reason for limiting the tender?

Return tabled.

Mrs. Carol Skelton

With regard to all contaminated sites in Saskatchewan known to the government, what, in each case, and with a detailed description of each, is the type and the scope of the contamination, including any clean-up action plans involving government departments or utilizing financial assistance from the government?

Return tabled.

Mrs. Carol Skelton

What, in detail, are all of the costs associated with the Non-Insured Health Benefits program from its inception to the present time?

Return tabled.

Ms. Wendy Lill

At each level of the Canada Pension Plan disability application and appeal process, for each financial year from 1990-1991 to 2000-2001, what were the numbers of men and women (listed separately for each group) who: ( a ) applied for or appealed denials of disability benefits; and ( b ) were awarded benefits?

(Returns tabled)

Hon. Roger Gallaway

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

Is it agreed?

Agreed

The Chair has received notice of an application for an emergency debate from the hon. member for Langley--Abbotsford.

Mr. Randy White (Langley—Abbotsford, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, one of the reasons we should bear in mind why this is necessary is the response from the agriculture minister in question period today, when he suggested that we had done nothing for a month and a half. The fact is this problem is growing worse, and the government should have done more in the month and a half. We have been waiting for it.

The avian flu virus is a serious crisis in Abbotsford, the province of British Columbia and, indeed, all of Canada. In fact it has now spread outside of Abbotsford. More than 19 million birds have been ordered eradicated. This has tragic consequences to the chicken, turkey and specialty bird industries and to processors, feed mills and restaurants. The total cost of this catastrophe cannot be borne by those directly involved. In fact this is what our national government is in place for, to deal with such an economic crisis.

I am concerned that the government is responding to the issues in a rhetorical manner, to which we should pay little attention. Statements are being made that would suggest compensation, but that compensation falls far short of actual costs. Statements are being made with reference to farm income programs, but much of the actual costs are not being referred to. No commitments are being made for specialty birds, and the small bird farmers are not even consulted. Little consultation is undertaken with local experts and no national plans are in place in the event of further spread of the virus.

The debate for which I am asking is national in context, notwithstanding the Prime Minister's comments that the avian flu is a problem hidden behind the Rockies. It is not hidden, but a real impact to all Canadian people, whether they be taxpayers, farmers, producers, lawmakers or consumers.

Many questions need to be answered through debate in the House. Some of them are as follows. How does a virus like this start? Other provinces want to know as well. How is it spreading, even after all the precautionary measures are in place? Are the precautions adequate? Do we need to kill everything with feathers? What national program is in place to address such a crisis? Why is there no commitment to cost share with the provinces on costs other than eradication? Why are specialty bird farmers and small bird farmers not consulted? Why are local consultants left out of the consultations? What mistakes made through the BSE crisis are again being made in the avian flu crisis and why?

There are many more questions that need answers, Mr. Speaker, but I believe you have my intent. Please do not accept for face value the government's position that all is well and under control in the lower mainland of British Columbia, because it is not. I ask for an emergency debate on this issue and would appreciate a response.

The Chair wants to thank the hon. member for Langley—Abbotsford for raising this matter. It appears to me that the request does meet the requirements of the Standing Order. Accordingly I direct that a debate will be held later this day on the matter upon the adjournment of the House, presumably at 6:30 p.m. today.