Tom Lukiwski

[Business of the House, October 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, today we will continue the debate on an opposition motion which gives the government an opportunity to talk about keeping its promise to review our programs to ensure every taxpayer dollar spent is well spent and by reducing the debt by $13.2 billion.

Tomorrow we will begin debate on Bill C-25 , proceeds of crime, followed by Bill C-26, payday lending.

Next week, we will continue with the business from Friday with the addition of Bill C-27, dangerous offenders, Bill S-2, hazardous materials, Bill C-6 aeronautics, and Bill C-28, a second act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on May 2, 2006.

With respect to my hon. colleague's question on supply day, just like a child waiting for Christmas, he will have to wait a little bit longer. We will get back to him next week.

[Privilege, October 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleagues, all of whom have made comments on this issue.

In considering your ruling, Mr. Speaker, it is very important to try to consider the spirit and the motivation behind the issue with which we are dealing. I can assure you that my hon. colleague, my friend from Leeds—Grenville, in his statement, was quite accurate when he said that any information that might have been inadvertently given and later reported in a national publication was done not in the spirit of leaking deliberately to the media information that might be considered confidential, but was done quite innocently and in an “inadvertent” manner.

My colleague from Leeds—Grenville has also stood before the House and apologized to his colleagues on the committee, to the House and to you, Mr. Speaker, because there was no malice intended. There was no intention to deliberately leak information prior to the subcommittee reporting back to the committee.

Mr. Speaker, I think you will recognize that each of us in the House from time to time makes mistakes. I think it is important, however, to recognize whether or not the mistakes made were serious enough by the intent behind them to cause some consequences and discipline from you. I would suggest that in this case there was absolutely no intention of malice. There was no intention to deliberately leak information. This was an inadvertent mistake. My colleague has apologized and I would ask that you take that into consideration when considering this question of privilege.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, October 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all further questions be allowed to stand.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, October 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, if Question No. 64 could be made an order for return, this return would be tabled immediately.

[Privilege, October 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I assure my hon. colleague that any leaks that might have occurred from this government or, I am sure, any other government must be taken seriously.

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest to the hon. member that we would like to examine whatever documents he has tabled with you. I would ask that we reserve judgment to comment further until we have had a chance to examine the documents provided by the hon. member.

[Points of Order, October 17th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a separate point of order. Unless there is other conversation on the first point of order, I would like to raise a point of order arising from question period. I believe that I heard the hon. member for Don Valley West refer to members of the government, ministers of the government, as strangers to the truth. I would suggest that there was a theme coming out of question period today, because I heard not only the member for Don Valley West but also the member for Wascana use the same quote: that members of this House were strangers to the truth.

I suggest to you, Mr. Speaker, that the decorum in this House would improve dramatically if members would address issues rather than addressing items that could be construed as personal attacks. Therefore, I would hope that you would take a look at today's blues. I would ask for a ruling on the words of the member for Don Valley West and would invite you, Mr. Speaker, to address the broader issue of personal, undignified and unjustified attacks on members in the House.

[Government Response to Petitions, October 17th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 12 petitions.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, October 16th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, October 16th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, if Questions Nos. 10 and 22, supplementary, could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

[Government Response to Petitions, October 16th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 (8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to 39 petitions.