Mr. Speaker, section 23 of the federal conflict of interest code includes this guideline:
A public office holder shall take care to avoid-the appearance of being placed under any obligation to any person-that might profit from special consideration on the part of the office holder.
In September the heritage minister blatantly broke the guideline. He did not avoid the appearance of conflict of interest. He participated in a private dinner at which guests were invited to pay $2,000 for access to the minister and after which several received government contracts.
The Prime Minister was therefore clearly wrong when he said in the House yesterday that "the minister has contravened none of our rules or directives".
Will the Prime Minister, before he digs himself in any deeper, now demand the resignation of the Canadian heritage minister for violation of this guideline?