Bob Rae

[Natural Resources, March 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question about a miraculous transformation for the Minister of Natural Resources.

The giant of business who brought “decades of experience in business and economic development” and “nearly 30 years of experience in developing regional business prospects in Newfoundland and Labrador”, in the words of the Minister of National Resources when he appointed one Reg Bowers to the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, suddenly was transformed into a nameless, inexperienced volunteer.

Can the miracle worker, the minister, tell me how this miraculous transformation took place?

[Financial Institutions, March 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister never said sorry, not even when the Minister of Finance meddled in the mortgage market.

A consumer with a $400,000 mortgage will have to pay over $10,000 for the Minister of Finance's interference.

How can the Prime Minister justify such interference in the country's markets?

[Financial Institutions, March 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know very well that being a Tory means never having to say sorry. That is exactly what has happened.

The Prime Minister never said sorry, not even for—

[Ethics, March 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as usual, more whoppers than are served at Burger King in a week.

I would like to ask the Prime Minister to simply deal with the facts of this situation. If there is a slur campaign that is being run, it is being run by Elections Canada because it is Elections Canada that has talked about illegal contributions. It is Elections Canada that has talked about overspending. It is Mr. Penashue who has paid back nearly $50,000. It is Mr. Penashue who has resigned.

However, the point is that before he resigned, he and the Prime Minister took part in a systematic campaign to have the Government of Canada pay for the election expenses of Mr. Penashue. That is exactly—

[Ethics, March 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Penashue received his letter from Elections Canada outlining the illegal donations and the overspending, a letter that was sent on February 12. That would mean the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister's Office would have been aware of that letter shortly thereafter. It took over four weeks for the minister to resign. Then he had several trips paid for by taxpayers, several messages that were paid for by taxpayers, several meetings paid for by taxpayers.

How could the Prime Minister have allowed this to go on for so long without asking for his resignation?

[Financial Institutions, March 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the Competition Act is clear: it is against the law to conspire to maintain prices, or in the words of the member for Beauce, to set prices. It is against the law for financial institutions to make such arrangements.

Why does the Prime Minister tolerate such action from his Minister of Finance?

[Ethics, March 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, if looking in the mirror produces unacceptable results, it is hardly the fault of the people who are asking the questions.

Let us be clear. This is about the rule of law. This is about the rule of law with respect to Elections Canada. This is with respect to somebody who is currently under investigation by Elections Canada carrying out a political campaign financed by the Government of Canada and financed by the Conservative Party. That is the—

[Ethics, March 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister wants to see ugly, he and his cabinet colleagues should simply look in the mirror and assess their own conduct—

[Ethics, March 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the victims of the latest Conservative crime are the people of Labrador. Those are the victims we need to stand up for.

It is now clear that there was a completely “orchestrated from central casting” resignation by the minister. Peter Penashue held press conferences. He used government money to hold press conferences. He placed ads. The Conservative Party transferred money to the riding association in Labrador. The entire thing was orchestrated by the Prime Minister of Canada and orchestrated by the Conservative Party of Canada.

[Ethics, March 19th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I hope that the best MP Labrador ever had is not someone who paid over $47,000 to buy an election. That is not what makes a good MP.

I would like to ask the Prime Minister this very clear question again: where is the clear rule that will ensure that members obey the law and that will allow Elections Canada to complete its work and its investigation into Mr. Penashue's activities?