Mr. Speaker, I do not want to disappoint the member opposite, because he does raise a very interesting issue. However, before we get into the actual question, it should be noted for all the Conservative members who are speaking that the only prime minister in the history of Canada to be held in contempt of Parliament was no other than Stephen Harper. Guess who his parliamentary secretary was? It was the current leader of the Conservative Party, the great defender of the contempt back then.
Nothing has changed if we think about it. Now, the leader of the Conservative Party feels that it is okay and that he does not need to get a security clearance. He is the only leader in the House of Commons who figures that he does not need to get it. The member opposite is saying that, well, he should not get it; after all, it is not in his best interest to do it.
I will read what Wesley Wark said in an article. However, before the member is critical of this individual, he was an adviser to both Conservative and Liberal governments. The article reads: “Conservative Leader...is “playing with Canadians” by refusing to get a top-level security clearance and receive classified briefings on foreign interference, according to one national security expert.”
I am wondering if the member might want to retract some of his comments and give advice to his leader to do the honourable thing, to do what the leaders of the Bloc, the NDP and the Green Party, and the Prime Minister have done and get the security clearance.