Yes, I would like to say a few words about this.
I move this motion because I think it is crucially important. We need to go on with the committee's study on the financing practices of the Conservative Party. I remind the hon. members that in July and August 2008, before the election, the committee sat for six days to hear witnesses on the issue of the election expenses of the Conservatives during the 2005-2006 campaign. The committee heard the chief electoral officer and a few Conservative candidates and organizers. But that study was never completed. Several people refused to appear, and we did not hear the main strategists of the Conservative Party.
We think it is imperative to complete this study and make a report of this issue, so that our efforts are not in vain. We should keep in mind that all the work has been done, and that a report should come out of that. We think this study should be completed because the issue is most serious. The Conservative Party allegedly spent $700,000 more than it was allowed. For its own interest, the Conservative Party should demonstrate that it does not have anything to hide, especially since it ran on a platform of openness in 2006. It should also be noted that nothing has changed since the last meeting of the committee, in August 2008. The questions that were asked then have still not been answered. We do not know who was responsible for this scheme, how much money was illegally spent and who knew what about it.
Legal proceedings are ongoing, and it is quite possible we will have another general election before we know what happened. Like I said in a previous meeting, this situation is very worrisome, since some people who were involved in this scheme have named by the Prime Minister to public positions. Let me mention among others Michel Rivard, who was called to the Senate on December 22, 2008 and Mr. Irving Gerstein, who was also named a senator on the same date and was until recently the chair of the Conservative Fund Canada. Both he and Mr. Rivard were summoned on July 31, 2008, but both of them refused to appear before the committee.
As a second point, I would like to emphasize the need to take action concerning those who refused to appear. A number of people like candidates, financial agents, and organizers of the Conservative Party who were summoned did not appear before the committee. I think this constitutes contempt of Parliament and its committee et should not go unpunished. If we turn a blind eye to this problem, we will jeopardize our work in the future, since witnesses could duck out as they see fit. The power to compel witnesses to appear is a parliamentary privilege, and it should be respected. We all know that the Conservative Party urged its candidates and organizers to refuse to appear. This is unacceptable.
We suggest that this committee should give these witnesses a last chance to appear because they perhaps did not realize how serious their refusal to obey was. Some of them may have had good reasons not to appear because they were sick or had other reasons, but it would be hard to admit that they all suddenly became sick. If they still refuse to appear, we should take steps to condemn them for contempt.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.