I'm going to continue, Chair. I have some things, through you of course.... Again, it's great to be back on this committee, but there are some things I still want to say.
Again, I want to go back. The contention that Speakers' Spotlight completely ignored a legal order of this committee is clearly false. I think that other members on this committee know it as well. Again, I think members know full well that when the House was prorogued back in August to allow for the preparation of a throne speech for COVID-19 recovery, all orders for the production of documents died, including the request from this committee to Speakers' Spotlight for documentation. Furthermore, Chair, a new request was never passed by this committee in this session. In fact, this committee held a vote on whether to request further documentation for Speakers' Spotlight, and it failed. I find it really concerning that a member is out there giving false information. Let's call it what it is. The accusation that Speakers' Spotlight has violated an order of this committee is a complete and utter fabrication levied to help further the political interests of the Conservatives.
Chair, in closing, I am very disappointed that my colleagues would spread this misinformation to the detriment of a Canadian business without evidence to support this claim. As parliamentarians, we have an obligation to help Canadians and Canadian businesses. We want them to succeed. We want them to grow. We don't want to tear them down.
What is even more concerning is that my Conservative colleagues would try to chastise a business for simply following regular business practices as regulated by the Canada Revenue Agency and relevant privacy legislation. In what has become the norm, another group has had to publicly defend itself from Conservative attacks after being caught in the crosshairs of their war against the Prime Minister.
I think it's important to read a quote directly from Speakers' Spotlight, Chair. This won't be long, but it's important. It's of the utmost importance that we deal with facts here. Let me quote. The owners of Speakers' Spotlight noted:
It is standard practice for companies to purge documents after 7 years, and we have always followed this practice. Furthermore, under Canadian privacy law we are required to destroy all personal information as soon as it is no longer necessary. Therefore, it is not just good practice, but a legal requirement that we have been following.
Furthermore, the Canada Revenue Agency's guidance on the retention of corporate documents is also clear in this matter, noting that under the Income Tax Act, records must be maintained for a minimum of six years. You need to retain your records for six years. When I had my own businesses—previous to the Sea Dogs, I was in the aquaculture business and I was out on my own—we had to retain records for six years. I had a baby barn out back full of boxes. I had so much paperwork.
In any case, Speakers' Spotlight was well within the law in regard to regular business practices.
As well, Mr. Chair, there are other members who would have the public believe that this was some elaborately orchestrated conspiracy between the government and Speakers' Spotlight to disappear documents, to get rid of documents. Again, that couldn't be further from the truth.
Let's step back. I challenge anybody on this committee or any member to say if they really believe it was orchestrated that way. Again, I've asked people who came into my office, Mr. Chair. I talked to a couple who came in who were in the tourism industry, and we all know what this pandemic has done to the tourism industry. We talked about how they were on CERB, and now they've transitioned on to EI or the CRB. I asked them point-blank whether they really believed there was this orchestrated, concocted alliance between this company and the Prime Minister. People look at me as if I had four heads.
We looked at it. We made our decision months back, Mr. Chair. Lt's be clear: It was months back. They're looking at me wondering why we are even talking about this now. Why is this taking parliamentarians' time right now, when we are dealing with a threat to our country? I have profound disappointment that we are going down this road. We are continuing to try to dig at something that just doesn't really exist.
I had a guy come into my office yesterday, Mr. Chair, and tell me straight up that he's disillusioned with politics and politicians. I was disappointed. I think we've all heard that, and I said—