House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1997, with 54% of the vote.
Rcmp Investigations October 10th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, as I already said, I learned of the possible existence of a warrant when a Conservative member indicated yesterday that a warrant had been issued and then gave its number.
At that point, one my assistants checked with our Montreal office and was told that no search had been carried out. This is why I said that while a warrant may have been issued, it had not been executed.
Rcmp Investigations October 10th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I will continue to indicate clearly what the facts are because these are allegations that are totally without foundation.
One of my employees was listening to the debate yesterday and immediately called Montreal, relayed the message to my legislative assistant who was here in the lobby and who sent me a note through a page which said that in Montreal there have been no search warrants executed. Those are the facts. That is how I knew.
Rcmp Investigations October 10th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to have the occasion to put the facts straight.
The first time I learned about a mandate that would possibly have been issued for a search warrant to search the regional offices of the ministers in Quebec was during the course of question period yesterday, in a question from the Conservative member for Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough.
President Of The Treasury Board October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, this Parliament's integrity depends not only on our party's integrity, but also on the integrity of individual members of this House. The integrity of individual members can be questioned when they make unfounded accusations, when they smear reputations, and when they cast innuendos that can destroy people's reputations.
The right thing to do now is to wait for the investigation to run its course. That is what integrity prescribes.
President Of The Treasury Board October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, they themselves mentioned the existence of that search warrant. How can they, after that, comment on it?
The truth is the Conservative Party has been making all kinds of innuendoes, all kinds of false accusations, God knows for what purposes, but the fact is there is somebody under investigation. We know it is Mr. Pierre Corbeil.
There is an investigation that is taking place. I hope the results will be known very soon. Until we know these results, the opposition should be very careful about whose reputation it attacks.
Rcmp Investigations October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, when a warrant is issued, the reasons are stated on it.
I should not have to tell this to the Bloc leader. But he should know that such documents are part of an investigation. The investigation was requested by our own minister and we want to see it completed as soon as possible. We have a duty to let the police conduct its investigation, reach its conclusions and take whatever measures are appropriate.
Rcmp Investigations October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc leader should get his facts straight and let the RCMP do its job.
According to my information, a warrant was issued but not executed. Why was the warrant issued but not executed? The answer lies with the RCMP. To their knowledge, there is currently nobody working for me who is under investigation.
The fact that the Bloc insists on mentioning names—
Rcmp Investigations October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, an investigation is under way at the present time, as everyone knows.
An individual named Pierre Corbeil is being investigated at this time. I called Jacques Roy of my office this morning and he told me that he had no knowledge of any investigation whatsoever being carried out on himself. At this time, no one in my office is under investigation.
The Conservative Party ought simply to allow the investigation to run its course.
Rcmp Investigations October 9th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I think the question is entirely irrelevant.
The RCMP may have executed a search warrant but no employee of my staff is under investigation at present. That is the end of it.
The Conservative Party is merely trying to deflect the implication of Pierre Corbeil who happens to be the brother of an ex-Conservative minister.
Rcmp Investigations October 8th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, once again, no charges have been laid in this investigation. An investigation is underway, and the Bloc is busy sullying the reputation of people who have not yet had a chance to defend themselves.
The right thing to do is to ignore the gossip mongers who are tarnishing people's reputations. Right now, we just have to let the investigation take its course.