Information & Ethics Committee on May 25th, 2010

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

--as we found out with Mr.--

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Order.

Gentlemen, for no other reason than that we have translators, and they can't do their job when you both speak at the same time, please respect the—

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Well, now that there's a pause, I'll answer.

I'm here representing the Prime Minister. I've said that four times now, and you continue to suggest that I'm here representing Mr. Soudas. That is not the fact.

Our government accepts ministerial responsibility. We accept ministerial accountability. The days when you could call in 25-year-old young people before this committee and beat up staff who can't defend themselves are over, Mr. Easter.

We accept ministerial responsibility. I'm a minister. I'm accountable. If you have any questions about the matter that's before the committee, I'm here and prepared to respond.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Let me again—

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

You have 20 seconds left.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Okay, Mr. Chair.

In the orders of the day, from the Office of the Prime Minister, Dimitri Soudas, director of communications, was invited here for a specific reason. He's no 25-year-old. He represents the Prime Minister's Office on TV every day. He's more of a spokesman than our ministers of the crown. We see more of the PMO through Dimitri Soudas than we do of ministers that have ministerial responsibility in this government.

If he can be the spokesman, don't try to say he's a 25-year-old being intimidated by this committee. I do know that he intimidates cabinet ministers, but he is certainly not a 25-year-old who any member of this committee could be intimidated by. And you're--

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Order, order.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

--affronting parliamentary democracy by your appearance here today--

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Order.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

--when the committee has invited Dimitri Soudas. Do you understand?

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Order, order.

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

I understand you're making a mockery of Parliament.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Order. Order.

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

I'll huff and I'll puff....

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Just a moment.

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

This sounds like your Big Daddy G speech.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Order.

Mr. Minister, order.

Just a moment, please.

We had an agreement that we weren't going to raise our voices here, Minister.

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Wayne just blew that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

I'm sorry, but—

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Apparently Mr. Easter wasn't invited to that agreement.

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

I was waiting for “I have a dream”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

You have to behave yourself.

All the members have to behave themselves.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Look over there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

We have a very serious issue before us, and another one has fallen on our table by virtue of the government's announcement this morning.

This committee wants to do its job, wants to do its work, and we want to move forward.

Discussing the announcement of the government today and all the reasons why is not before this committee right now. I don't want to go there. If people persist in going back to matters that are not before us right now—

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

That was the nature of the question Mr. Easter asked me, sir.