Thank you, Chair. I don't begrudge you for holding a special meeting and bringing us all back from our ridings, but I was the child care this week, so my wife begrudges you just a little bit.
Over the last few years, as those across the aisle may recall, I have not been shy, on occasion, about calling out our government and calling for greater accountability. I read the Ethics Commissioner's report with interest, twice, and I came to the conclusion that the report speaks for itself. The commissioner found four contraventions of the act, though it is important for Canadians to understand that she did not find that the Prime Minister acted improperly to further the Aga Khan's interests. The Prime Minister, as everybody knows, immediately apologized and noted that something like this would never happen again and that precautionary measures would be put in place. He used the words “I take full responsibility”, which I think is important.
As to the specific question of whether this committee ought to invite the Prime Minister to attend, I've heard some of the questions that the opposition might be interested in asking the Prime Minister. The opposition will, of course, have every opportunity to ask questions in question period when the House resumes. Every Wednesday, you will have a full question period to ask questions of the Prime Minister.
Mr. Kent, you noted that the Prime Minister is criss-crossing the country, and Canadians will also have the opportunity to ask questions of our Prime Minister. On a number of occasions in the past, we've discussed not turning this committee into another question period where things can get more partisan, this being one issue I worry about as well.
I note, Mr. Cullen, that you mentioned getting to the substantive reform of the act. I look forward to having the Ethics Commissioner before us tomorrow and asking her questions about her 2013 recommendations and about possible reforms of the act, but that's it. I think this committee should be focused on that substantive work and not on relitigating issues that we're likely to see in question period.