Madam Chairman, we have heard a lot in the House about ethics. Ethics of course is a code of conduct, how we as individuals conduct ourselves whether in business, industry, government or in whatever profession we might be. We have heard often, I think with reckless abandonment, comments made in the House about ethics. Clearly we all learn ethics when we are very young. We learn what is right and what is wrong.
When one uses a wide brush and says that government is unethical, one is not only smearing and attacking the institution of government but also smearing and attacking the servants of government, whether they be elected officials or members of the civil service. I think we need to make that very clear.
This minister is in charge of Public Works and Government Services Canada. We have heard significant attacks on the issue of ethics in that department. I note that the Conference Board of Canada, hardly a biased organization, has recognized the minister's department as a leading edge organization for its ethics programs.