Mr. Speaker, I rise on a question of privilege.
Yesterday my hon. colleague, the member of parliament for Palliser, made some very serious charges in the House. The hon. member said that in the course of a private conversation he overheard on a flight from Ottawa to Fredericton that I discussed events relating to the RCMP Public Complaints Commission inquiry into events at APEC.
I categorically deny that I engaged in an inappropriate conversation that would in any way prejudice the outcome of that inquiry.
I was seated with another passenger in the course of a two hour flight from Ottawa to Fredericton. We had a wide-ranging conversation covering various subjects. At no time did I prejudge the outcome of the PCC inquiry, nor did I suggest that my role was to prevent the Prime Minister from attending the inquiry.
First, I have much respect for the independence of the PCC and its civilian oversight function.
Second, I am determined to allow this inquiry to run its course and establish what happened at APEC and why.
Third, I fully understand the responsibilities of the Solicitor General and would never jeopardize my lawful duties.
Finally, I am personally offended that the hon. member has chosen to impugn my integrity, my ethics and my commitment to this process, particularly since these attacks were made by a political opponent who spent two hours eavesdropping on a private conversation.
There were only two parties to this conversation, myself and Mr. Fred Toole. I would now like to table a letter from Mr. Toole which supports what I have just told the House.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to rise on this question of privilege and to state for the record what really transpired. I am not going to say anything further about what we discussed because this was a private conversation.
I have full confidence in the independence and impartiality of the PCC and I would ask all hon. members to give the hearing process a chance to work.