James Moore

[Ethics, June 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, what security checks were done on Mac Harb before he was named to the Senate and took $231,000 from taxpayers? What background check was done on Mac Harb before the Liberal leader said that he was welcomed to come back to the Liberal Party even though he took $231,000?

What background check was done by the leader of the Liberal Party on these charities that he took money from rather than give it to them? Did he have as a rider on all his contracts, that he would speak to them only if they paid him x thousands of dollars? When will the Liberal members come clear on their corruption and their pocketing of money from charities?

[Ethics, June 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, a background check in 2011 would not have revealed a charge that was levelled in 2013. That is not quite how the order of time works in the universe.

If Mr. Zajdel or Mr. Applebaum are found to have broken the law in any way in their behaviour when they were involved in municipal politics, which is what is being referred to here, from 2006 to 2011, they should have the book thrown at them and they should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

[The Senate, June 17th, 2013]

No, Mr. Speaker, we have not spoken to them about this guide.

[Ethics, June 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, in answer to the first question on her list, Mr. Zajdel will never be appointed to the Senate.

[Ethics, June 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, quite simply, the answer is no.

I never spoke to Mr. Wright after May 15, when everything became public.

[Government Appointments, June 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, no, because this investigation is related to municipal affairs near Montreal. They never contacted me because this is not a federal issue.

[Government Appointments, June 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I just explained to the member's colleague, we were not aware of any of the activities related to these charges.

I learned this morning that there was an investigation concerning Mr. Zajdel's activities between 2006 and 2011, before his involvement in federal politics. He was involved in municipal politics in Montreal during the period in question. That is what this is about, and we did not know what was going on until this morning.

[Government Appointments, June 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague should know, he was a municipal councillor for over 23 years. His job in my regional office was to do the coordination with cultural communities in the city of Montreal.

If in his municipal career, and this is what the allegations are, prior to his involvement in federal politics, he in any way broke the law, he should have the book thrown at him. He should be held responsible and he will be by our justice system.

[Ethics, June 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, again, the RCMP operates independently.

Frankly, it would irresponsible for the government to tell the RCMP to whom it should or should not be speaking. I, the Prime Minister's Office and the Prime Minister personally have not been contacted by the RCMP on this matter.

However, if the hon. colleague has questions about how the RCMP is fulfilling its obligations, he should direct those questions to the RCMP. It operates independently of the government.

[Ethics, June 17th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, no, I did not speak to Mr. Wright after he resigned.