John Baird

[Points of Order, October 5th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, yes.

[Points of Order, October 5th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, before you asked me if I would table it, you said I could read it if I want. Mr. Speaker, I want.

[Points of Order, October 5th, 2010]

Pardon me, Mr. Speaker. My earphone was not working. Could you repeat.

[Points of Order, October 5th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I can tell my colleague, the House leader for the official opposition, that this book comes from former Liberal minister Jim Peterson's former director of parliamentary affairs, Lou Riccoboni, who is identified as the interferer in chief.

Tab A outlines the general attempts by the Liberal minister's staff to interfere in ATI requests. Tab B provides summary statistical information on delays to ATI requests by the minister's office. Tab C provides written documentary evidence demonstrating that the minister's director of parliamentary affairs had to sign off in order to release access to information requests to non-partisan public servants. Members will see that Mr. Riccoboni had to physically okay the release of these requests. The first page in Tab C outlines and provides a template on how Minister Peterson's office would interfere with ATI requests.

There are also numerous examples that I can provide. I would hope that all members of the House would look into this important matter.

[Prime Minister's Office, October 5th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, let me say this. I can confirm that Mr. Wright has sought the counsel of the independent Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, and he is taking direction from that office.

It was our government that brought in the toughest ethics reforms in Canadian history. When we did so, it was the Liberal Party that said we were going too far.

[Prime Minister's Office, October 5th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, let me say this. I believe it is fantastic that someone who has been very successful in the private sector and very successful outside government is responding to the call of public service and coming to Ottawa to serve the national interest. Canada is blessed.

If members of the Liberal Party had their way, I suppose that they would want to discourage talented people from outside government from coming to Ottawa to contribute. Thank goodness this was not the case, or we never would have had a Paul Martin or a Belinda Stronach.

[Prime Minister's Office, October 5th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, in keeping with the standard for all such staff, this individual will disclose all of his public holdings to the commissioner and will place them in a blind trust.

Let me explain this different kind of blind trust we have now. It is not a Venetian blind trust.

[Prime Minister's Office, October 5th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. I understand that the Ethics Commissioner appeared before a parliamentary committee this morning. What did she have to say? She reported that she and her office have been very vigilant in the area of conflict of interest.

I can confirm to the House that Mr. Wright has sought and has followed all the advice given by the independent commissioner. That is exactly what taxpayers can expect.

[Ministerial Responsibility, October 5th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that the Liberal Party would ask questions on access to information. I have right here a book from a Liberal cabinet minister's office, in which political staff have to tick off a box and initial. It asks whether something is okay to release, yes or no. Then the political assistant initials it. This is very interesting.

Maybe we should refer this book to the commissioner, along with some of the dirty tricks the Liberals would use when they were in power.

[Ministerial Responsibility, October 5th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I think the minister has acted appropriately. He has accepted the resignation of one of his political assistants. He has done the right thing. He has referred the matter to the Information Commissioner.

I guess the member for Bourassa would like to adjudicate these matters on the floor of the House of Commons. We would rather have confidence in the independent commissioner looking into this important matter.