Discussion · Government Orders
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Québécois
“This bill creates a defence agency that the Auditor General cannot fully check. The government is using this setup to avoid public oversight and reward friends with top jobs.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles for his foresight and for urging everyone to open our eyes so that everyone understands what is going on here. This is no ordinary approach, and he has rightfully denounced a form of collusion or, at the very least, proximity, which is the key factor in securing a “prestigious” position. As a taxpayer, I am concerned. There is a fundamental function in this Parliament: that of the Auditor General. However, we know full well that an agency like this cannot be thoroughly audited by the Auditor General. The AG does not have access to the same information as she would if the agency fell under the responsibility of the department, as it should. I would like to hear my colleague’s thoughts on any other possible ways the government might be able to pull a little stunt like this and avoid being accountable to the public, which will benefit the Prime Minister’s friend.”
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles for his foresight and for urging everyone to open our eyes so that everyone understands what is going on here. This is no ordinary approach, and he has rightfully denounced a form of collusion or, at the very least, proximity, which is the key factor in securing a “prestigious” position. As a taxpayer, I am concerned. There is a fundamental function in this Parliament: that of the Auditor General. However, we know full well that an agency like this cannot be thoroughly audited by the Auditor General. The AG does not have access to the same information as she would if the agency fell under the responsibility of the department, as it should. I would like to hear my colleague’s thoughts on any other possible ways the government might be able to pull a little stunt like this and avoid being accountable to the public, which will benefit the Prime Minister’s friend.