Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the House that compliance with the ethics rules is not optional in Canada. It is an obligation that all elected members of the House must comply with, regardless of their position. These rules are designed to guarantee the integrity of our institutions and to maintain the trust that Canadians place in us.
The Prime Minister must obey the same rules as every other member of Parliament. However, it is important to note that the Prime Minister did more than just meet those requirements; he exceeded them. He proactively provided the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner with all the information required, and he did so pre-emptively. That is leadership. It is not simply a matter of following the rules when necessary. It is a matter of anticipating them, doing more than the bare minimum and setting an example for all elected officials. Canadians expect their Prime Minister to act with integrity, and that is exactly what he did.
Unfortunately, some members of the opposition are trying to sow doubt by raising unfounded concerns or even conspiracy theories. I firmly believe that this type of rhetoric does nothing to increase public confidence in the government or in the elected members of the opposition. On the contrary, they are undermining the credibility of all our institutions, for the sole purpose of trying to score cheap political points.
I would remind the House that Canada has one of the most stringent ethics regimes in the world. Our system demands transparency, full disclosure and accountability of all public office holders. Not only did the Prime Minister fully comply with the rules, he went further by clearly demonstrating that he has nothing to hide. It also needs to be said that each new member is bound by the same code as all other members. I sincerely hope that all members of the House comply with their obligations just as diligently. On this side of the House, we have always followed the rules, not out of obligation but out of principle.
To us, ethics is not a campaign slogan; it is an ongoing responsibility. Canadians can count on us to continue to be unequivocally transparent and diligent.
On this side of the House, we take these responsibilities seriously, and Canadians can count on that.