Mr. Speaker, for eight years the member for LaSalle—Émard was simultaneously Minister of Finance and owner of Canada Steamship Lines. As minister he received 12 separate briefings on his private business. A vice-president of Canada Steamship Lines told the CBC program Disclosure that the company had moved its operations to Barbados because of “changes in Canadian tax rules”.
Would the government confirm that those changes were made in the member for LaSalle—Émard's first budget and can the Prime Minister categorically declare that the former minister did not influence the changes in Canadian tax rules in his budget which caused his company to move its activities to Barbados?