Mr. Speaker, the minister cannot hide behind the ethics counsellor.
Here are the facts: ACOA, which was responsible to the industry minister, paid $55 million to Irving Shipbuilding. The Irvings gave the minister a trip worth well over the $200 limit. In the eyes of the public, the gift bought the Irvings $55 million in taxpayers' money.
This is clearly a serious situation and what the minister did was wrong. Will he do the right thing and resign?