Mr. Speaker, on a couple of occasions the member, and I think it was the theme of his speech today, said to prove that the money is clean. It is dirty until it is proven clean. It is basically back to being guilty until one is proven innocent.
Today is the 25th anniversary of section 15 of the charter, equality rights. We celebrate the charter and under it everybody is equal. We are all covered by the right to be treated fairly under our justice system, including due process, independence of the judiciary, and the presumption of innocence.
It does not matter who says they are innocent or who says they are guilty. The evidence before the Gomery commission, most of it, is given by people who have already been charged with fraud. They have already pleaded guilty in the public forum to white collar crime. These things will have to go through the judicial process and if it is ever proved or shown that there were others who somehow were participating in that, they also will be charged. The ultimate guilt is to be determined by the courts.
Why does the member think that we must go on the evidence of people who are before the Gomery commission, and who have already been charged with fraud? Why should we believe what they have to say until we hear all of the evidence before we determine whether or not those allegations have any basis and whether charges should be laid under the laws of Canada?