Mr. Speaker, we have already noted the contracts were given in accordance with treasury board guidelines by the Department of Canadian Heritage. The fundamental point is that the member was not a minister at the time that he received this refuted benefit. He is not subject therefore to the code at the time he was merely a member of parliament. Nor is any member of the House subject to such a code, which is one of the reasons we are proposing that such a code be adopted.
In the House of Commons on May 27th, 2002. See this statement in context.