Ms. Oda, I read the statement you made in the House last February 14. Speaker Milliken referred to it in his ruling on March 9. He quoted you verbatim. I don't think that you will be going back on that.
In your reply last April 23, you mentioned that CIDA's decision not to continue funding KAIROS was based on an overall assessment. That seems to say that the decision was CIDA's. That is the important point. In his ruling on March 9, Speaker Milliken said: …in view of the very serious allegations regarding the conduct of a minister, who, as a result, has been subjected to harsh and public criticism which has been potentially damaging to her reputation.
Therein lies the problem, Madam Minister. It is not that you said no. It is the way in which you tried to pass the blame to CIDA. This morning, Emeritus Professor Franks told us this:[I simply] observe that she has, as I understand it, admitted to having misled the House. As the lawyers would put it: res ipsa loquitur. The thing speaks for itself.
The distinguished professor has no partisan axe to grind. The fact that you tried to pass the blame to CIDA is very serious. You corrected yourself later. You said it yourself. The problem is that you are telling us that there is some confusion, while a distinguished professor says that you deliberately misled the House. That is what I feel you did, Madam Minister, and it is very serious. There is only one thing for you to do and you should do it: you should resign. As Professor Franks says, you misled the House.
Do you agree with the distinguished experts who say that you misled the House?