Mr. Speaker, the Liberals prefer to have a peekaboo ethics counsellor. In 1993 they promised to establish an independent ethics counsellor who reported publicly to parliament. In 1994 they delivered an ethics counsellor who reports behind closed doors at fireside chats with the Prime Minister.
This flawed approach to openness and integrity has resulted in an ethics counsellor who investigates the Prime Minister's business dealings in secret, an ethics counsellor who was unsure whether the Prime Minister should file a public disclosure, an ethics counsellor who makes decisions solely based on the information provided by the Prime Minister and his trustee.
When I tried to get the ethics counsellor to appear before the industry committee the Liberal committee chair toed the party line and ruled me out of order.
The Liberals need to stop covering up for the Prime Minister and his ethics confidant, Howard Wilson. It is time for the Liberals to prove their commitment to integrity, to live up to the red book promises and to establish an ethics counsellor who reports directly to parliament.