Mr. Speaker, when making so many patronage appointments, the obvious thing has happened with governments over the past decades. They make some that are good, naturally; they even make some from other parties, I suppose. That covers them for making the majority, or many of them, their friends.
Look at this list. A member of Parliament's campaign manager in Vancouver Centre was executive assistant to the ministers of justice and energy, mines and resources in the eighties; assistant to a former Nova Scotia Liberal leader; assistant to various Ontario MPPs. These are Liberal Party hacks.
Of course some will be made based on qualifications, skills and abilities so exactly what has happened here can be done. A member stands up and says: "Look at this one; let me identify this one; what do you think of it?" That particular individual may be good based on qualifications, skills and abilities. I do not know the particular individual and his qualifications, skills and abilities, but I do know there are many people on parole boards who do not have the qualifications, skills and abilities.