Your comments were probably translated. At the same time, I think it is of the utmost importance for Canada to protect the copyright of its citizens—this is a matter of public interest, particularly since millions of dollars of public funds have been given out on the basis of misrepresentations. Even though that evidence was not only presented publicly, but sanctioned as well by a justice of the Superior Court, and even though complaints were lodged with the RCMP in the past, no action has yet been taken to punish these individuals, whose conduct was despicable, as the judge pointed out, and who broke the law. No action has been taken to file charges relating to the fraudulent actions of the people involved in terms of obtaining public funding. No action has yet been taken by the government to present a claim for repayment of the money granted on the basis of misrepresentations.
This is where we can play a role, by putting some critical questions to a certain number of witnesses: the RCMP investigators, the Crown attorneys who contacted RCMP investigators to terminate the proceedings that had been initiated, in order to shed some light on the decisions that were made and ensure that there is some follow-up, now that the evidence has been clearly laid out and sanctioned by a court of law which, I believe, we all respect.
We are not asking for revenge for Mr. Robinson, but at the same time, laws were broken and monies were obtained fraudulently that should be paid back. That is why I am moving the following:
That the committee conduct a thorough study of the Cinar affair, and particularly allegations of political interference, with a view to determining the reasons for the decision not to press criminal charges against the persons responsible, and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.