Thank you very much for that, Mr. Chair.
I'm quite perplexed, actually. We give the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner the ability and the privilege to look into the affairs of and consult with each member of Parliament and each elected official to help and guide us in how we conduct our affairs in the most ethical and transparent manner.
Since Mr. Barrett wrote to the Ethics Commissioner on this specific issue, it would be nice to see—because this matter is now before the committee—what the actual response was. I would love for Mr. Barrett to share with the whole committee how the Ethics Commissioner responded to him on these questions that we are all deliberating on right now during this emergency 106(4) meeting.
I'm hoping that Mr. Barrett, of his own accord, will share and forward—whether it's through the clerk or to all of our committee members—what the exact response was. It calls into question how we conduct ourselves as members of Parliament, the importance of the transparency with which we operate and the importance of making sure that there is trust in democratic institutions.
Over these past couple of days, I've delved into this question of what the difference is between taking a vacation with a family friend—having consulted with the Ethics Commissioner or let them know you're about to do this—and then paying back the cost of the flights for it versus going on a trip with a Hungarian think tank to the United Kingdom and having thousands of dollars' worth of fine food.
Where is that line? How do we really understand and appreciate what our role as members of Parliament is and what the role of the Conflict of Interest Act is?
Whether it's important or not to members of the opposition, I think this is an important question for us to expand on to understand the nature of this study. It's important to understand and appreciate that this is not just about one person; this is about an institution. It is about how we conduct ourselves and how we ensure that transparency and the obligation to Canadians exist in how we operate as members of Parliament, given that we are in a place of privilege where we have the opportunity to make policy and advocate on certain issues and what influences those issues.
I wonder if a Hungarian think tank would like to influence how we operate here in Parliament, and whether a steak would influence what the Conservatives wanted to advocate for. Perhaps this matter requires a deep understanding of how the Conflict of Interest Act really operates within our Parliament, how we can ensure that transparency exists and that we continue to maintain trust in our democratic institutions, and how we conduct ourselves as members of Parliament.
As I continue to opine on this, Mr. Chair, Mr. Brock referred to the House leader and the new House leader. I want to wish the former House leader, Karina Gould, a very blessed maternity leave as she goes on to have a baby and really reconnect with her own family, and Mr. MacKinnon takes on her role in an acting capacity as she builds her family.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.