Mr. Speaker, first, the basis or the genesis of the discussion today arose from a number of very serious remarks that were made by members opposite saying that I had labelled a certain individual as a terrorist. In fact, there is no record of that whatsoever. I take that as emotional and misinformed debate. I do not rise and shriek to the rooftops here in the chamber.
However, since they raised it, we may as well have on the record that I did ask some questions related to Mr. Arar, none of which, there is not one quotation, indicate that I said that man was a terrorist.
As a matter of fact, I have one quote where I said:
--one thing is clear: his basic rights have been violated. Why hasn't the federal government demanded an apology from the Syrian government?
That is one thing I said. There is another thing that I said. When I was talking to the wife of Mr. Arar, I said:
That's clear...Was there information sharing that went on, involving the RCMP and related to concerns with Mr. Arar?
I was asking questions about the RCMP and what information they may have shared that had resulted in Mr. Arar's dilemma.
I also said, related to Mr. Arar, when I was in the opposition:
Is it normal that a Canadian citizen could be held in another country for such a period of time and the foreign affairs minister does not even know where he is?
Those are things that I said. Is it not interesting that opposition members will take something I never said and say I said it, but they will not take what I did say and reflect on it?
And I will say, in reflection to the former minister of foreign affairs, with whom I have worked on many issues and for whom I have great regard, in light of these totally ridiculous--