These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Minister Mislead House
Mr. Garry Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville,
CPC): Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the Minister of Public Safety did not
have her facts straight. I would like to quote what the minister said:
In fact, we have asked Radio Canada to provide us with its numbers and its
calculations which to date it has refused to do.
The producers of CBC's Zone Libre said that no one from the Canada
Firearms Centre or the minister's office ever contacted them.
My question is very simple. Why did the minister mislead the House? Why?
Hon. Anne McLellan (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety
and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, immediately after
question period I will be rising on a point of order, but let me reassure
everyone in this House that I did not mislead this House.
The Deputy Speaker: I have a matter raised yesterday by the hon.
member for Yorkton--Melville and as just mentioned, by the hon. Deputy
Prime Minister.
Hon. Anne McLellan (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety
and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise in relation to
a question of privilege raised in the House yesterday by the hon. member
for Yorkton--Melville.
Radio Canada claimed in a report aired last Friday, February 13, that
costs of the firearms program had reached $2 billion. Costs of the centre
to date are nowhere near that figure and we wanted Radio Canada's numbers
and its calculations. The member alleged that I never called Radio Canada
to ask for a clarification prior to my comments on Monday.
As I informed the House, we had asked Radio Canada for its calculations. I
was informed that a call was made and a message left with Radio Canada
last Sunday, prior to my comments Monday, by the official in my department
who worked with the network on the story. I am informed that the message
left asked for the calculations used. Radio Canada in fact confirmed
receipt of that message. We received its calculations on Wednesday of this
week.
For the record, I would add, that we continue to say that the cost of the
program is nowhere near $2 billion. The cost of the Canada Firearms Centre
to date is less than half that figure.
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