Thank you, Mr. Chair and colleagues.
Every member of this committee and every member of Parliament has an obligation to conduct themselves in a manner that respects both the letter and the spirit of Canada's strict ethics regime for public officials. Throughout my time in public life, I've always done just that.
As I explained to this committee in the spring, I respect the role of the opposition in holding the government to account on important issues. However, it's no secret that our conversations on accountability can, more often than not, be clouded by partisan interests. This has been particularly evident in the conduct of Conservative MPs in this Parliament.
When we are talking about people's reputations and people's ethics as they work to organize their financial affairs following an election, conversations that are marked with partisan suspicion and bad faith are neither helpful nor fair. To ensure fairness, we have a non-partisan and independent Ethics Commissioner to advise us, to help ensure compliance with our legal obligations and to adjudicate matters when concerns are raised.
With that in mind, I'm happy to inform this committee that the Ethics Commissioner has written to me and told me that he has completed his assessment, including the examination of my phone records. He has once again—for the third time—come to the conclusion that there is no cause for concern and he considers this matter closed.
To keep Parliament impartial, we have an independent, non-partisan Ethics Commissioner responsible for advising us, helping us comply with our legal obligations and adjudicating any matters that arise. With that in mind, I'm pleased to inform this committee that the Ethics Commissioner has written to me to say that he has completed his review, including the examination of my phone records. For the third time, he has come to the conclusion there is no cause for concern, and he considers this matter closed.
I thank the Ethics Commissioner and his office for reviewing the facts and the evidence and confirming to me once again that he sees no reason to believe the allegations made about me in the media and by Conservative MPs.
Colleagues, the commissioner has no reason to believe these allegations, because they simply aren't true. That said, I do recognize the distraction that this matter has become. I sincerely regret and am disappointed by the partisan attacks the allegations have prompted, and the effect they've had on my family and those around me.
With the benefit of hindsight, I should not have gone into business with Mr. Anderson. While it has had no impact whatsoever on my duties as a minister, and while I have always followed my ethical obligations, it is clear in hindsight that this is not an individual whose actions and choices I want reflecting on me.
With the benefit of hindsight, I realize that I should not have gone into business with Mr. Anderson. While it has had no impact whatsoever on my ministerial duties, and while I have always honoured my ethical obligations, it's clear, in hindsight, that this is not an individual whose actions and choices I would want reflecting on me.
Like all of you, I had deep concerns following Mr. Anderson's testimony before this committee. Like all of you, I believe he has an obligation to be forthright with this committee about the facts of this matter, in particular because I know those facts would further confirm that I'm not involved.
If Mr. Anderson was in fact intending to refer to someone else in the text messages he sent, he should give that person's name to this committee. If he was in fact using my name without my knowledge or permission, he should tell that to this committee. I do not know which is the case, but I can say unequivocally that I absolutely did not take part in the conversations referenced. I sent no such messages to Mr. Anderson. I had no involvement with any dealings or business with the Ghaoui Group, and any suggestion to the contrary is not true.
In the spirit of transparency, I proactively sent my own records for September 6 and 7 to the clerk of the committee this morning, which I previously gave to the Ethics Commissioner at his request prior to his most recent letter to me on this matter. I trust this will further illustrate the simple truth. Whatever happened there, I was not involved, and I invite the members here to review those records for themselves.
Once again, I thank the Ethics Commissioner for impartially reviewing the evidence and confirming this for a third time.
Friends, I'm here to provide what clarity I can, even though I was not involved in the events this committee has questions about.
However, I am here to provide the clarity I can today, even though I was not involved in the events this committee seems to have questions about. Let's have a conversation about the facts. Let's move beyond the baseless accusations and innuendo. Then let's all get back to work delivering for Canadians.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
