House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
The Prime Minister February 20th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, having the member stand and explain why the Prime Minister got such a big majority because he visited his riding quite often over the last number of years is frankly something we appreciate. However, trying to turn that into something suspect or questionable should be beneath the member. Sadly it is not.
The Prime Minister February 20th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I would have thought the member would be amazed by the fact that after visiting the riding and doing all of the work, the total payout was only half as much as the payout to the Alliance Party from a law firm that benefited by some $300,000 from the taxpayers of Alberta to cover the last bit of slander coming from that party.
Business Development Bank February 20th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we have a definitive statement from the ethics counsellor saying that this matter has been investigated and there is no basis for the allegations being made.
Yesterday we had an RCMP statement saying that the matter raised by the member has been investigated and that there is no basis for any further investigation.
What we have is a stubborn leader of a party in the far shadows of the Commons that cannot accept the right and decent way to proceed and to apologize to the Prime Minister for his behaviour.
Business Development Bank February 20th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I think most members of the House, in light of the very clear and definitive statement yesterday by the RCMP, would have expected the right hon. gentleman to stand today and apologize to the Prime Minister of Canada.
I say with respect that this Joe runs the risk of going from Joe who to Joe McCarthy if he does not stop this kind of politics.
Business Development Bank Of Canada February 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, for greater clarity, the leader of the Conservative Party did not advise the House what the communique, which was in the way of a press release, from the RCMP said.
Following two letters from the leader of the Conservative Party, two requests for a criminal investigation, the communique today says that “the review was done to determine if a criminal investigation was warranted in the matter. Our review of the facts”, something with which the hon. member is not familiar, “has determined that there was no information or facts to support such an investigation. We have therefore concluded this matter and have advised the complainant we will not be pursuing a criminal investigation into this matter”.
Joe, it is time to give this nonsense up.
Ethics Counsellor February 15th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, through you to the leader of the Conservative Party and further to his earlier question, the individual ultimately responsible for preparing response lines in question period for the minister on this file is my deputy minister and his former chief of staff.
Ethics Counsellor February 15th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member that the only preparation for question period of which I am aware is the one that comes out of my department.
I can say to the member that he continues to draw a link with Mr. Jean Carle. A former chief of staff to the leader of the Conservative Party now works for government in a senior position. A former chief of staff to the Deputy Prime Minister, under the government in which he served, now works in a senior position in this government.
That former chief of staff of yours is my deputy minister and is a qualified individual, as qualified to work for government as Jean Carle.
Points Of Order February 14th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, as the list of names has already been made available to the media, I would be very happy to make it available to the House.
Ethics Counsellor February 14th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I would not consider it fair and I am happy to report that it did not happen. Those are the facts.
What is happening here on the basis of no evidence and no new information is a systematic attempt to use parliament through allegations and through smear to injure the character of somebody who has served the House and the country for 38 years. That is what is happening here. Members opposite know it and we know it on this side of the House as well.
Ethics Counsellor February 14th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, in a scrum outside the House I made reference to the shares being in a blind trust and then within two sentences corrected myself and referred to assets being looked after by trustees.
With reference to the request for information to be tabled, the leader of the Conservative Party knows much ofthat information is subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act.He also knows that if I were to table that information, I would have to tender my resignation 10 seconds later.