Madam Speaker, I have a comment but I do not think there is anything I want to actually ask the member about. I want to clarify some comments the hon. member made which were not correct. I would like to ensure that the record shows the correct information.
The hon. member made reference to the ethics counsellor, that the ethics counsellor found the appearance of a conflict of interest on the part of the Minister of Finance. Both the member and I were at the meeting and the answer the ethics counsellor provided was that there was no conflict of interest and no appearance of a conflict of interest.
To go further, the member stated there was some doubt as to whether the Minister of Finance acted properly. In fact the minister quite rightly did not act at all. All decisions and discussions were held by the secretary of state.
The Bloc Quebecois keeps moving on this issue. It started by hurling accusations that the FAPI rules were in jeopardy. Then the Bloc members said that the clause would benefit the minister. Now the assertion is that there is an apparent conflict of interest.
In fact the answer given to the members of the Bloc, the members of this House, was that there is no apparent conflict of interest. There is no conflict of interest. The Minister of Finance will not in any way benefit from this bill. It has been said over and over again but those members continue on this track. Those who make this charge knowing full well that it is false demean this institution and demean public life. Pure and simple they are engaging in the most cynical kind of politics. It is something Canadians will not stand for.
I would hope the hon. member has the courage, if he feels so strongly about this, to go outside and make those accusations. But he knows that what he is saying is false and is pure politics. There is no room in this House for that kind of politics.