Mr. Keeper:

Do you not read The Globe and Mail?

Mr. Cyril Keeper (Winnipeg North Centre):

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Public Works. I want to remind the Minister that his Department took part in the tendering of a cleaning contract for Canada Post. The president of the company which was a higher bidder and was awarded the contract said that after all the bids were in officials of Canada Post said they still wanted his company to do the job even though it was the second highest of the four bidders. He said: "They asked me to negotiate the bid". He said that he lowered his bid by about 10 per cent to make it slightly lower than Federated's and then was awarded the contract.

Does the Minister not agree that this has all the appearances of undermining the integrity of the bidding process? Is the Minister prepared to put a stop to this? Will he investigate it? What will he do to preserve the integrity of the bidding process so that people with the lowest bid can get fair treatment and get the contract?

Mr. Cyril Keeper (Winnipeg North Centre):

Mr. Speaker, it is really a great surprise to know that this Minister is not concerned about this situation. Why is he prepared to allow a situation where the tendering process is stopped, while the person who made the highest bid, or nearly, receives the contract and the one who made the lowest bid is ignored? Why is he prepared to let this situation continue without taking any action?

Mr. Keeper:

Point of order.

Mr. Keeper:

I rise on a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted some clarification here and maybe some assistance from the Chair. I am wondering if the Minister is speaking to the motion and the legislation or if he is raising a point of order.