House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Prime Minister March 27th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we now know what is the next line of attack by the Conservative Party. It has now discovered something powerful and important.
We do not have 300 original copies of the bill of sale to be tabled in the House. This indeed is proof of wrongdoing by the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister March 27th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we have two leaders in the House, one of whom has cost the taxpayers of Alberta $800,000 and taken a $70,000 contribution from the firm that defended him, and the other leader who saw his leadership disappear with German money involved in his leadership convention. Both of them, if they wanted to investigate conspiracies, should look in their own backyards, not across the floor of the House.
Prime Minister March 27th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, documents have been released today, all of which required the consent of the parties to this agreement, including the Prime Minister and others. Some 11 documents in total have been released by the ethics counsellor.
The ethics counsellor has made very clear in his release of these documents that they make absolutely clear that post-November 1993 the Prime Minister has not owned the shares of the golf course and, more to the point, that Mr. Prince has owned these shares as he has acknowledged in the document.
The leader of the Conservative Party can stand, puff out his cheeks, turn red and look outraged, but he cannot change the facts.
Prime Minister March 27th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the ethics counsellor released 11 documents today. This is an unprecedented release of information only because consent was given by the Prime Minister and other parties to these arrangements to have these documents released.
However, we just heard from the Leader of the Opposition the real motivation here. It is called revenge. It is called payback. It is called getting even. It is called making up any kind of allegation to get a headline because he is trying to hang on to his job and he is on pretty thin footing.
Prime Minister March 27th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I have never seen a more vacuous, empty drum in all my life. Everyone knows that an empty drum makes the most noise and there is no one emptier of substance than the Leader of the Opposition.
The Leader of the Opposition is not interested in information. He is interested in trying to save his skin from the leader of the Conservative Party. That is the reality of these questions. Industry Canada has given no direction to anyone to change anything.
Prime Minister March 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, there has not been a single new piece of information brought forth today to substantiate this smear campaign.
As for the statement that the Prime Minister lacks the support of the caucus, let me say on behalf of every member of the caucus that we have full confidence in the Prime Minister. We will stand with him and beside him in the House.
Prime Minister March 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, as I said a moment ago, the corporations directorate is nearing completion of its examination of corporate records of this company. Once that is completed the information that is appropriate will be conveyed to the ethics counsellor for his judgment as to their use.
With respect to further information, the Prime Minister has just indicated that he has agreed, and hopes others will as well, to make information public and have that information released by the ethics counsellor as soon as possible.
Prime Minister March 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, there is a very simple reason why the Prime Minister and everyone else have looked at this and said that Mr. Jonas Prince owned the shares. He bought them in November 1993.
Prime Minister March 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the director, Mr. Richard Shaw, has informed the deputy minister that he will shortly be completing his examination of the corporate records of 161341 Canada Inc. Once that information is completed, a letter will be sent in response to the ethics counsellor from whom the request came in the first place.
However let me say something. There has not been one piece of new information here today. The fact remains that the ethics counsellor has examined the matter. The police has opened and closed the books. What we have here is an attempt to smear. There is not one new piece of information. Members opposite should get back to the business of Canada and stop the business of smearing a Prime Minister who has done no wrong.
Prime Minister March 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I will have to say it again. The work of the directorate is being carried out under the supervision of the deputy minister. The deputy minister for three years was the chief of staff to the leader of the Conservative Party and for two years the chief of staff to the former deputy prime minister under the last Conservative government.
No directions have been given, none whatsoever. Business is being conducted as usual. When the work is finished the normal information will be posted for all the public to see.