Mr. Speaker, Mr. Wright will receive only what is required by law and nothing more.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 56% of the vote.
Ethics May 30th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Wright will receive only what is required by law and nothing more.
Ethics May 30th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the money used to pay for all Conservative campaign expenditures during the 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011 elections was our money. No taxpayers' money was used. This was made very clear in all of our submissions to Elections Canada. That is the truth.
As the Prime Minister said on Tuesday, anyone who holds public office, whether in the House of Commons or the Senate, must respect taxpayers' money.
Ethics May 30th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, indeed, it was inappropriate for Nigel Wright to do what he did, which is why he took sole responsibility for his actions and resigned. That is the view of the Prime Minister. It is the view I think of all Canadians.
What is equally the view of all Canadians is that the leader of the NDP come forward with what he knew about corruption in the city of Montreal. In 1994, he was offered a bribe. In 2010, he said that it did not happen. In 2011, he met with police. Just two weeks ago that he came clean and said that the whole affair happened.
What is it about corruption in Montreal that the NDP leader is trying to hide?
Canadian Heritage May 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, Canada Day is a great day, on which I know all members of Parliament take pride in celebrating this country. Indeed, Canada has a great deal to celebrate. We are leading the G7 in job creation. We have the lowest taxes in 50 years. Violent crime rates are down.
We are going to be celebrating Canada Day this year, our 146th birthday, in every part of this country. Here in the national capital, we are going to be welcoming artists like Marie-Mai, Carly Rae Jepsen and Jennifer Gillis, great artists from across the country, to come here and show the brilliance of Canada's artistic community, while we celebrate a country that has never been more “strong and free” than it is right now.
Ethics May 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, if my hon. colleague wants to compare records, let us take a look at the Liberal leader's record so far. He said that Canadians who do not speak both of Canada's official languages are “lazy”. He said that Canada is not doing well right now because it is Albertans who control our agenda. He said that he does not believe in reforming the Senate because we have 24 senators in Quebec and there are only 6 for Alberta and British Columbia, and that benefits us.
He does not have a pan-Canadian vision. He attacks different regions of this country. We will be glad to compare the record and leadership of our Prime Minister against the divisive failed-already leadership of the Liberal Party.
Ethics May 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, of course, it is expected that any individual repay taxpayers from his or her own funds. That is why Nigel Wright took sole responsibility for the behaviour he engaged in, which the Prime Minister said was entirely unacceptable. He resigned, and the Prime Minister accepted that resignation, as taxpayers expect.
Ethics May 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague knows, independent authorities are looking into these matters, but I would again refer my colleague back to the statements the Prime Minister made just last Tuesday when he spoke to all Canadians.
He made a very clear statement that everybody in this country who has the privilege to serve in public office should understand that they should never be here if they are planning to enrich themselves, and if they are planning to do so, they should leave right now. That is the truth, whether it is in this House or whether it is in the Senate. It is true whether it is Mike Duffy or whether it is Liberals who have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
Ethics May 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, as he said in his statement when he stepped down, Mr. Wright took sole responsibility for this because he was the one involved.
Ethics May 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the premise of the question is entirely false.
Yesterday the Senate did two very important things for Canadians. The first was to issue a report that was agreed to unanimously, including Liberal members, to refer this matter to the RCMP, which is entirely appropriate. Second, the Senate took action on 11 specific items to protect the interests of taxpayers going forward.
Those are the things the Senate did and they are exactly what is in line with what taxpayers expect.
Ethics May 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the original Senate committee report did reflect the results of the audit and the Senate took new action yesterday. A new report has been out. The RCMP has appropriately been brought in.
More important than that, what Canadians are looking for is the action that was taken yesterday by the Senate, which is 11 new items of accountability to protect the interests of taxpayers. We think that is the action Canadians want to see and that is the action we are taking.