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Claude DeBellefeuille

Replying to Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal)
“Madam Speaker, I will start off by indicating how much I personally value our veterans and the contributions they have made to our community. The government as a whole does too, and we see that in a number of policies that I could easily expand upon. The question I have for the member is in regard to the CRA as an independent agency with an established criteria when something goes out to tender. Can she give her perspective as to the number of people in the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires who are veterans? Is the member aware of that? She gives the impression that they are all veterans. I am advising that that is not necessarily the case, even though they do outstanding work.”

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Madam Speaker, my colleague’s question gives me an opportunity to clarify some things. I know that we are talking about the equivalent of 12 full-time positions for veterans. It is true that, when we talk about this, it seems that it is not a big number. However, that is not what is at issue. It is the principle that is at issue. Indeed, the CRA moved up the April 1 deadline by publishing specifications and exempting itself from the Commissionaires’ right of refusal. That is what we are questioning here. The fact that veterans representing 12 full-time equivalent positions are losing their jobs may seem insignificant to the parliamentary secretary. However, I think it is too many, because they already had a job. Moreover, those who stay will be paid $2 to $4 an hour less to do the same work. Evidently, I cannot agree with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, who says that it is a small amount. No, it is not, because a right has just been taken away. Moreover, this is the first agency to decide to take this right away. Soon, on April 1, if the government does not change its mind, it would be the entire government, through Public Services and Procurement Canada, that will remove the Commissionaires’ right of refusal.