John Baird

[Ethics, April 21st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the allegations brought forward some two weeks ago had nothing to do with government business. They were immediately referred to the relevant authority for independent review.

If the member opposite has any allegations that he would like to make, I would encourage him to have the guts to make them outside this place. If he has specific evidence of any wrongdoing, he should follow the example of the Prime Minister and refer it to the relevant independent authorities.

[Ethics, April 21st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, just because the member opposite says it, does not mean it is true.

We have been very clear. When serious allegations were brought forward, they were immediately referred to the relevant authorities for an independent review. That is what ethics is all about. That is what accountability is all about. The Prime Minister did the right thing.

[Ethics, April 21st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, every Canadian is equal under the law.

Let me be very clear. The allegations that the Prime Minister referred to the relevant authorities had nothing to do with government business. In fact, no government money was given under the green fund for the projects that she speaks about.

If she has any evidence of a contravention of the Lobbyists Registration Act, I encourage her to bring those forward to the independent authorities that this government established.

[Automotive Industry, April 20th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, let me very clear. The Government of Canada will work to ensure that all legal measures and the full force of Canadian law are used and that all measures are taken to ensure that Canadians are safe. The issue that the member discusses is under investigation by my department.

Let me tell the member opposite about a key difference between Canada and the United States. In Canada ministers of the Crown do not order criminal charges to be laid.

[Ethics, April 20th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, if the member opposite has any allegations that he would like to make, I would encourage him to take them to the independent authority, but I doubt he will because any allegations that this member has ever raised have turned out to be totally incorrect and false.

[Ethics, April 20th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear with respect to the issue the member raises. Serious allegations were brought forward to the Prime Minister's attention. He acted immediately, referring them to the relevant authorities. None of the allegations that were brought to the Prime Minister's attention had anything to do with government business.

With respect to the individual in question, no grants were either recommended or awarded.

[Questions on the Order Paper, April 20th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the response is as follows: a) On February 17, 2010, Ministers and high-level officials from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, United States, Mexico, Panama and Dominican Republic, jointly with the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, issued a joint declaration recommending that States, in collaboration with ICAO and pursuant to international law and domestic law, regulations and programs, establish procedures to strengthen their capacities to assess and face civil aviation security risks and threats, thereby facilitating legitimate passenger and air cargo flows.

To this end, governments represented in the meeting signaled their intent to promote the implementation of measures to strengthen travel document security, passenger screening procedures and biometric information, to broaden existing cooperation mechanisms, to share best practices related to civil aviation, and to utilize modern technologies to detect and prevent the carriage of prohibited materials.

Furthermore, attending governments aim to systematically collaborate within ICAO with a view to convening both international expert and intergovernmental meetings to agree upon actions in the following fields: aviation security standards, information exchange, research and development, and international cooperation.

b) Canada has not committed to sharing any personal information through this joint declaration. Plans for any future information exchange mechanisms will be developed with full respect for all domestic laws on protection and confidentiality of personal information.

c) By signing this declaration of intent, the Government of Canada has simply reconfirmed its long-standing commitment to the continued strengthening of global aviation security, through cooperation with other like-minded member states of the United Nation’s International Civil Aviation Organization.

[Ethics, April 19th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear that when this issue was brought to the Prime Minister's attention, when the facts were brought to the Prime Minister, he did not know whether they were true or whether they were not true. He referred it to an independent officer of the House to look into it. He referred it to the relative authorities, in this case the RCMP so that they could make the decision as to whether to look into it.

Notwithstanding the fact that in this instance none of the allegations in question had anything to do with government business, any other minister, any MP, any senator or any employee of the Government of Canada, that is the high ethical standard that the Prime Minister adopted.

[Ethics, April 19th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, this is quite outrageous. Serious allegations were brought to the Prime Minister's attention a week ago Thursday and what did the Prime Minister do? He immediately acted within hours.

The allegations that were brought before the Prime Minister some 10 days ago had nothing to do with government business. The Prime Minister, rather than sweep the issue under the rug, did the right thing. He referred the matter to an independent third party. That is the high ethical standard our Prime Minister promised and that is the high ethical standard he has lived up to.

[Ethics, April 19th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. Ten days ago when serious allegations were brought to the government's attention, the Prime Minister did the right thing.

Let me remind the House that the allegations brought to the Prime Minister some 10 days ago had absolutely nothing to do with government business. On the issues with which she is speculating, no grants were recommended and none were forthcoming. That is the ethical way to run a government.

I am pleased to tell the member for Toronto Centre that the green fund is also helping clean up the Ottawa River right here in our nation's capital.