Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Cooper, you mentioned Brookfield's relationship with the Chinese political regime and Mr. Carney 's relationship with China.
Earlier, I couldn't help but think about everything we did in the last Parliament to try to counter foreign interference, particularly from China, in Canadian democratic and political life. I was thinking, among other things, of the bill we just introduced to block bloodstained goods produced by child slave labour. I was wondering if those relationships were an example of a potential conflict of interest of general application.
Based on your studies, analyses and research, do you think the government, through the Prime Minister, would be tempted to support such a bill, or would it be tempted to vote against it, given that it might want to protect the interests of Brookfield and preserve its relationship with China?
That is a conflict of interest. It may not have a direct impact on a fortune in a blind trust, but it is a real conflict of interest of general application.
People claim that it doesn't exist and that conflicts of interest of general application don't really matter. However, what we're talking about here is a person's power to make decisions that can result in a return on their investments.
I'd like to hear your comments on that.