Mr. Speaker, it is official. The Conservative government has stopped pretending that it is open and transparent, and the Prime Minister's Office is bent more than ever on silencing anyone who dares to oppose it.
They have muzzled the backbenchers in the House.
The government would now like to hold committee meetings in camera.
I would like to remind members that, in 1995, this Prime Minister spoke out against in camera sessions when he stated, “In my opinion it is in the best interests of the public for the information to be readily available. It will affect who is elected. That will affect the quality of government.”
He was right. It does affect the quality of government.
Illicit lobbying, a $50 million slush fund, the use of military resources as a personal taxi—Canadians have seen it all, but the ministers remain unscathed.
In 1995, this Prime Minister came to Ottawa to change things, but Ottawa has changed him.