David Christopherson

[Ethics, June 19th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's Office has used its power to protect entitled senators—heck, it even orchestrated a cover-up for them—and throughout, Conservatives have defended corruption instead of defending the public dime. Now senators who abuse taxpayers' trust can simply pay the money back and avoid any consequences. It is no wonder that Canadians are ready for change and looking for new management.

If Conservatives would not allow a thief to simply pay back the money and avoid any consequences, why is he allowing senators to do just that?

[Committees of the House, June 18th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 23rd report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts entitled, “Chapter 4, Access to Health Services for Remote First Nations Communities, of the Spring 2015 report of the Auditor General of Canada”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

I also extend thanks to all the members of the committee, all the staff, and the Auditor General, who does an amazing job for us.

[Committees of the House, June 17th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following reports of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts: the 20th report, on chapter 2, Required Reporting by Federal Organizations, of the spring 2015 report of the Auditor General of Canada; the 21st report, on chapter 3, Tax-Based Expenditures, of the spring 2015 report of the Auditor General of Canada; and the 22nd report, on chapter 5, Information Technology Investments, Canada Border Services Agency, of the spring 2015 report of the Auditor General of Canada.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to these three reports.

[Ethics, June 12th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, that is more nonsense from that member.

Clearly, the Prime Minister never even tried to confirm that his appointees were actually eligible. No wonder the senators think they can get away with anything, and the secrecy continues. When asked about its new appeals process, the Senate replied “...we do not disclose information about legal contracts”. The entire process will be shrouded in secrecy. This is accountability, Conservative style.

Do the Conservatives agree that a secretive internal board is the right place to dispute the evidence-based findings of our Auditor General?

[Ethics, June 12th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, in February 2013, the Prime Minister rose in this House and declared “...all senators conform to the residency requirements”.

That is not what the Auditor General found in his devastating report on Senate corruption. He found that five of the nine senators whose cases are now referred to the RCMP were not actually residents of the provinces they were appointed to represent.

Did the Prime Minister at least ask any of these senators whether they were eligible to sit in the Senate, before he appointed them?

[Steel Industry, June 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, USW Local 1005 president Gary Howe said, “Our members and our community don't trust U.S. Steel or this government to do what's best for workers and pensioners”, and it is easy to see why. Workers, Stelco retirees, and the City of Hamilton are in court yet again to force the Conservatives to reveal the contents of the secret deal they made with U.S. Steel.

We all know that the Conservatives failed to stand up for the workers of Hamilton, but why are they still refusing to give them the details so that they can at least stand up for themselves?

[Committees of the House, June 8th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 19th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, entitled “The Office of the Auditor General of Canada's 2013-2014 Departmental Performance Report and 2015-2016 Report on Plans and Priorities”.

[Ethics, June 5th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, so Conservatives are just fine with an appeals process that ends with a secret decision at a committee actually chaired by the Senate Speaker himself.

Media reports indicate that some cases could involve hundreds of thousands of dollars and more sitting senators under RCMP investigation.

The unelected, unaccountable, and under-investigation Senate has had its day. When will the Prime Minister stop covering up for Senate scandals and start working with the NDP to get rid of it?

[Ethics, June 5th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, it is sure becoming clear why Conservatives and Liberals were so desperate to make up attacks against us in a kangaroo court, but one kangaroo court is not enough for them. It seems that after learning they were named in the report, the Senate Speaker, the Conservative government leader, and the Liberal opposition leader in the Senate actually concocted a whole new appeals process so that they can disagree with the auditor's findings.

Was the Prime Minister aware of this when he appointed Mr. Housakos to be the most powerful person in the Senate?

[Ethics, June 5th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians woke up this morning to new revelations about the Senate corruption scandal.

Appalling details are emerging: thirty violated spending rules, nine referred to the police for investigation; four others already facing charges, including Conservative appointee Mike Duffy, who is now on trial; Conservative and Liberal leaders in the Senate and the Conservative Speaker all implicated.

The Prime Minister appointed the new Senate Speaker less than a month ago. Was he aware at the time that the Speaker was implicated in the Senate corruption scandal?