Madam Chair, I thank the member for her question.
In terms of the consequences, I would say the event certainly led to an embarrassing moment. The incident made headlines around the world, and for all the wrong reasons. However, I do not think it led to conclusions about Canada’s support for Ukraine. I do not have the impression it had lasting consequences in that respect. That’s my opinion; I am not an expert on relations between Canada and Ukraine.
I accompanied the Prime Minister to Poland when his delegation was travelling to Ukraine. During the planning for this visit, as well as during the visit to Poland and afterwards, no one raised the incident in question. It may be a sign that this story has somewhat run out of steam.
I must say that we are something like implementers. In my opinion, the thinking around what must be done now should focus on two aspects. First, there’s the issue of parliamentary independence, meaning the legislative branch relative to the executive branch.
For my part, I represent the executive branch. As I have always said, I am the Chief of Protocol of Canada everywhere except here. If I had requested the Speaker’s office guest list, I would have been told it was none of my business, probably rightfully so. I trained as a political scientist. That’s what I learned at university. I do not know how we could avoid another similar incident, since I’m on the outside.
Based on my understanding of the statements by the previous Speaker of the House following the event, something went wrong within his office. It is also my understanding that the Speaker’s office undertook a revision of the process in terms of establishing guest lists and recognizing guests.
The solution probably resides in the revision process, rather than creating a political crisis by trying to ask a member of the executive branch to verify the list of the Speaker of the House of Commons. That would be rather excessive, in my humble opinion.