Debates of Nov. 4th, 2013

Ethics

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, again, on February 13, the Prime Minister spoke to the entire caucus, both the Senate and the members of the House of Commons, and explained to them that if they had any inappropriate expenses, they should repay those inappropriate expenses.

At the same time, that was when Senator Duffy came and tried to justify his inappropriate expenses. He was told that he needed to repay those expenses.

The Prime Minister learned on May 15, when it was reported, that, in fact, Senator Duffy had not paid that back; Nigel Wright did. The Prime Minister was also very clear that had he known that such a plan existed, he would have in no way allowed it to go forward.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Nigel Wright told the RCMP that the Conservative Party initially offered to repay the expenses of Mike Duffy. This weekend, Irving Gerstein claimed that this was not the case.

Which version of the story does the Prime Minister believe? Which version of the story does the parliamentary secretary believe: Wright's story or Gerstein's story? Which is it?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it is quite clear that the Conservative Party did not pay the expenses of Senator Duffy. Mr. Wright himself has said that he paid those expenses. He understands and knows that that was not appropriate. He is prepared to be accountable for that decision.

That is the version that I believe, and that is the version that Canadians also understand. At the same time, there is a motion in front of the Senate, which would suspend these senators without pay. That is also something Canadians want. I am hoping that the Senate will get to it and suspend these three senators as soon as possible.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, Senator Irving Gerstein confirmed that he was aware not only of the $90,000 Mike Duffy was supposed to pay back, but also of the request to the Conservative Party of Canada fund to pay back Mr. Duffy's suspicious claims.

When was the Prime Minister made aware of this request?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, again, the party did not pay the expenses of Senator Duffy. Nigel Wright repaid those expenses. The Prime Minister learned of that along with most of us, on May 15. That was inappropriate that Nigel Wright would repay those expenses. The Prime Minister has also been very clear that had he known, he would have in no way endorsed such a scheme. Nigel Wright is prepared to accept responsibility for his inappropriate actions.

Right now there is a motion in front of the Senate that would suspend these three senators without pay, and that is the accountability that the Canadian taxpayers are waiting for. We hope that the Senate will get back to that as soon as possible.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, enough is enough. In the House, 75% of our questions are asked in French, but the answers are in English. We know that the parliamentary secretary can speak French. He should either answer in French or find someone else who will.

If Senator Gerstein is admitting that he was aware of the scheme to pay back Mr. Duffy's expenses and he did not inform the Prime Minister, then why is he too not being considered for sanctions in the Senate?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, let me just say this. I know how much people do not like to hear stories, but my parents came to this country in the late fifties. Until they both died, they were both extraordinarily nervous about speaking English. Although they could speak it very well, they spoke it with an accent. They were always nervous about that, right to the end.

On this side of the House, me included, I am learning French. I am doing the best I can, but at the same time, when we are being asked important questions, it is very important that we remain consistent and that the translation does not get mixed up or that members do not get a wrong answer because I am responding incorrectly.

I do not apologize for the fact that I am trying my best to learn French, but for all those people who are trying to learn another language--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. The hon. member for Wascana.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Senator Gerstein has confirmed publicly that he knew there was a conspiracy in the Prime Minister's office to pay, wrongfully, more than $90,000 to Mike Duffy. Senator Gerstein meets regularly with the Prime Minister.

With full knowledge that a cover-up was being implemented by the PMO, for three full months, including hush money of $90,000, did Senator Gerstein fail to alert the Prime Minister, and is Senator Gerstein therefore an integral part of the deception organized by Nigel Wright?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I think Nigel Wright has been very clear in affidavits that have been filed before the court who he brought into his confidence with respect to this scheme. The Prime Minister has said that had he known, it would have in no way been allowed to happen.

At the same time, there is a motion in front of the Senate right now. It is a motion that would suspend these three senators without pay. That is what Canadians want us to do. They want the Senate to get on with it to suspend these three senators who accepted funds they were not entitled to. The Senate needs to get on with this. Senate Liberals need to get out of the way, and we need to suspend these three senators without pay.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister says that he could not care less, but Canadians care. This is an issue that goes to the heart of government administration, directly touching the PMO.

Nigel Wright told police the Conservative Party was going to pay Duffy's expenses, but only up to about $30,000; $90,000 was far too much. But Senator Gerstein claims the party was never going to pay anything, period.

Which is it for the government, a question of principle, or a question of cost, and who is lying, Gerstein or Wright?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, what it is, as always, on this side of the House, is a question of principle. When it comes to Canadian taxpayers, we always, on this side of the House, put the taxpayer first. It is only the Liberals who get in the way of that and are fighting so hard to protect the status quo in the Senate.

There is a motion in front of the Senate right now that we suspend these three senators without pay. That is what Canadians want us to do. It is only the Liberals in the House and in the Senate who are standing in the way of that level of accountability. They are fighting so hard for the status quo. If only they would fight as hard for the taxpayers as we are, then these three senators would be out, they would not be paid, and Canadian taxpayers could have that accountability.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, here is just part of the list: Duffy, Wright, Gerstein, Perrin, Hamilton, Woodcock, Byrne, Rogers, Novak, van Hemmen, LeBreton, Tkachuk, Stewart Olsen, and on it goes: the Prime Minister's most senior entourage, all of them installed by him and accountable only to him, and all of them involved in the Duffy cover-up.

Is it the Prime Minister's testimony that none of these people told him about the corruption unfolding in the PMO, or is that because they knew he could not care less?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that it is only the Liberals in the House and in the Senate, and of course, the NDP, who want to make victims out of these three senators and former disgraced Liberal senator Mac Harb, the senator for Ottawa, who pretended he lived 102 kilometres away so he could collect the subsidy. They are the only ones standing up for these people.

We are standing up for the taxpayer. When the Prime Minister says he could not care less, he could not care less that they are going to stand in the way. He is going to make sure that taxpayers get the accountability they want, whether they are in the way or not.

That is the same with every member of this caucus. We stand up for the taxpayers now and tomorrow and always will.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Prime Minister tried to avoid answering straightforward questions—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order. The hon. member for Timmins—James Bay has the floor.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, whether he answers in English or French, I wish the hon. member would tell the truth.

Last week the Prime Minister told us to read the RCMP documents, which highlight the role of Senator Gerstein, but on Saturday Senator Gerstein essentially said that the RCMP witness testimony of Nigel Wright was a lie, so someone is not telling the truth here.

Whom does the Prime Minister believe this week: Nigel Wright or Senator Gerstein?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, what we believe on this side of the House is that when somebody puts in an expense claim that they are not entitled to, they need to pay it back. That is very clear. These three senators, along with disgraced Liberal Senator Mac Harb, took money they were not entitled to. They need to pay that money back.

At the same time, there is a motion in front of the Senate that would bring this level of accountability for the Canadian taxpayers right now. That is what we need to have passed. It is the Liberals in the Senate and the NDP and Liberals in this House who are making victims out of these senators.

I say that they should stand up for the taxpayers and bring accountability.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, even Rob Ford understands the importance of a little bit of contrition.

The problem is that the Conservatives cannot get their story straight. When the Prime Minister found out about Nigel Wright's deal, he said that he had done an honourable thing; then, last week, he threw him under the bus, saying that it was a deceitful scheme; then, on the weekend, his ministers were actually trying to pull Nigel out from under the bus.

Given the amount of trouble that Nigel Wright has caused his caucus, when was the last time anyone in the Prime Minister's Office or the cabinet spoke to Nigel Wright, how long was it after Nigel jumped ship, and what was it about?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, honestly, we have Canadians across this country who are looking for work still. We have an economy that, despite the fact that it has grown by 2%, is still struggling. We are trying to make a lot of gains in a lot of different areas. The Minister of Employment and Social Development is seeking to bring in a new job grant program, yet the NDP member wants to know the last time a few people talked on the telephone.

We should forget about European free trade, forget about our troops in the field, forget about the equipment they need, but when was the last time we talked on the phone with someone? Is this the best they have? Between—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order. The hon. member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, one thing is certain: Quebeckers and Canadians want to know the truth because they deserve the truth from their Prime Minister.

The Minister of Justice, who is well-placed to speak to the actions of the key players in the Senate scandal, said, “I've known Nigel a long time, he's a very principled individual, he's somebody who is honest”.

Do the Prime Minister or his parliamentary secretary approve of this statement?

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as I said on Thursday, there are MPs in this House who are proud to be Canadian and proud to be Quebeckers. They always work to build a stronger Quebec and Canada. It is a shame that this hon. member does not have that same pride.

If he had the same pride, he would help us build a bigger, better, stronger Canada, community by community. What does that look like? It looks like the member for Brant, whose hockey night in Brantford raised over $100,000 for a local charity. The member for Yukon ran and raised $100,000 for juvenile diabetes. That is what building a—