Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank my colleague for allowing me to speak to this motion, which I consider very important. Once again, I am disappointed to see that the Conservatives are protecting their own, but that does not really surprise me.
We have witnessed preferential treatment and inappropriate use of public funds. Funds were allocated to a project that was 164th on a list of 167 projects. I know that the region in question is growing and that there is a need for a project like that, but the fact remains that it did not receive good ratings. However, the government still decided to move forward with it. The government is simply forgetting about the other 160 applications and is pushing this project forward because of a political interest connected to the approval of the project.
Unlike what Mr. Calandra said, the government did not answer all the questions we asked in the House. The government keeps giving us the same answers. As members of the committee on ethics, we have a duty to study the issue and obtain answers for the taxpayers who are paying taxes. The funds must be earmarked for projects that are worthwhile and that meet all the criteria. A project must not be approved just because it comes from a friend of the Conservatives.
Ms. Finley repeatedly said that there was no personal gain at stake. I would say that there is a political gain and we have a duty to study the issue.
I don't want to take too much time, but let me add that I am very disappointed to see that the Conservative Party does not want to get to the bottom of things in order to put an end to partisan patronage and ensure that Canadian taxpayers' money is used properly.