Mr. Speaker, what the member has brought up is obvious. Obviously I cannot go down to Sparks Street and say anything I want without the risk of being sued. It is just as obvious that the moon will rise and the sun will set. Obviously we cannot say anything we want.
I would suggest that in his spare time he read the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in the Ouellet case. In the sugar cartel matter, André Ouellet, a former Liberal minister, had attacked the sugar companies by claiming that they were conspiring. The Supreme Court was clear on the issue of his parliamentary privilege: he could be taken to court.
However, that is not the issue. This does not have to do with the comments of the member for West Nova outside the House, but it has to do with the fact that he is unable to do his job as an MP and sit on the committee. It is alleged that he has a conflict of interest when he participates in the work and debates of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics concerning the Mulroney-Schreiber affair. That is the primary issue.