Ken Dryden

[Ethics, March 10th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, let us recap. We know Mr. Cadman told his wife, his daughter and his son-in-law that he had been offered a life insurance policy, and that he considered it a bribe.

We know that the Prime Minister was aware of discussions about the policy involving Mr. Cadman and legitimate representatives of the Conservative Party.

We know that the Prime Minister, who seems willing to talk about matters that relate to Mr. Cadman and his family, will not answer questions that relate to his own words: what they mean and what he knew.

I will give the Prime Minister another chance. They are his words: “I don't know the details. I know that there were discussions”.

Tell us what those words mean.

[Ethics, March 6th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister stands on questions about Mr. Cadman or his family but not about the Zytaruk tape, not when they relate to his own words, not when he would have to explain what he knew and not when he would have to explain what is very difficult to explain.

This is fundamental. If what Mr. Cadman's family says is right, this is about buying a vote to bring down a government. This is as serious as it gets. I will ask the Prime Minister the question again and ask him until he answers. Those were his words. Could he tell us what they mean?

[Ethics, March 6th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, there is a pattern developing here. The Prime Minister stands--

[Ethics, March 6th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Zytaruk asked the Prime Minister about an insurance policy. The Prime Minister answered, “I don't know the details. I know there were discussions”. Therefore, he knew that an insurance policy was involved.

Well, apparently not. The Prime Minister says that his party only offered help for Mr. Cadman's campaign, except Mr. Cadman did not think so. He told his family that he had received an offer of a life insurance policy. Why would he lie to them? Why would they lie to us?

We need to hear from the Prime Minister. These are his words, “I don't know the details. I know there were discussions“. Could he tell us what they mean?

[Ethics, March 5th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, we know that on Mr. Zytaruk's tape, to the question, “There was an insurance policy for a million dollars, do you know anything about that?”, the Prime Minister replied, “I don't know the details. I know that there were discussions...”.

What we do not know and only the Prime Minister can answer is that if he did not know anything about “an insurance policy for a million dollars” why did he not say “Insurance policy, what insurance policy? I do not know anything about an insurance policy”.

The Prime Minister now has had lots of time to think of an answer. I would like to give him another opportunity. Mr.--

[Ethics, March 5th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, we know that Mr. Cadman told his wife, his daughter and son-in-law that he was offered a $1 million life insurance policy.

We know that for the Prime Minister's version of events to be correct, either Mr. Cadman lied to his wife, his daughter and son-in-law, or his wife, his daughter and son-in-law are lying now.

The Prime Minister has had lots of time now to think of his answer. I would like to give him another opportunity.

Can the Prime Minister tell us who is lying, Mr. Cadman or his family?

[Ethics, March 4th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the interview went on:

The Prime Minister: Um, I don't know the details. I can tell you that I had told the individuals, I mean, they wanted to do it. But I told them they were wasting their time. I said Chuck had made up his mind,--

These are the Prime Minister's own words. He did not say, “No. Don't do it”. He did not say, “No. That would be wrong”. He did not stop them. His own words are there for any of us to hear.

If the Prime Minister knew nothing about this, why did he not just say “No”?

[Ethics, March 4th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, in the interview the Prime Minister did with Mr. Zytaruk, which is there for any of us to hear, the interview begins:

Mr. Zytaruk: I mean, there was an insurance policy for a million dollars. Do you know anything about that?

The Prime Minister: I don't know the details. I know that there were discussions, uh, this is not for publication?

These are the Prime Minister's own words: “I don't know the details. I know that there were discussions. This is not for publication?”

If he did not know anything, why did he not say, “Insurance policy, what insurance policy? I don't know anything about an insurance policy”. Why?

[Ethics, March 3rd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, through all the their noise and spin, we know that if what Mr. Cadman's widow, daughter and son-in-law are saying is true, this was about offering money for a vote to bring down a government. Buying a vote to bring down a government: unimaginable, unthinkable, Canada. This is as serious as it gets.

I am sure the Prime Minister would agree that if this is true, he can only, resign.

[Ethics, March 3rd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, we know in a TV interview that Mr. Cadman said that he had received certain offers but did not mention a life insurance policy. We know he told his wife that he was offered a $1 million policy and told his daughter and son-in-law the same thing.

We know the Prime Minister was aware that certain offers were being made to Mr. Cadman by people, as he put it, “legitimately representing” the Conservative Party.

Would the Prime Minister not agree, from his own life experiences, that under those circumstances it is far more likely one would decide to be less clear in a TV interview than with one's own wife, daughter and son-in-law?