Paul Calandra

[Ethics, June 12th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, it is just the opposite. The Senate invited in the Auditor General to review their expenses. A report has been tabled, and we expect the Senate to work with the Auditor General to implement the recommendations of that report, but what is also on the table is the fact of finding that 68 members of that caucus owe $2.7 million to the people of Canada, and they refuse to pay it back.

The member for Louis-Hébert owes $31,888 and refuses to pay it back. The member for Gatineau owes $24,498 and refuses to pay it back. The member for Hochelaga owes $24,000—

[Ethics, June 12th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I have already answered that. As members know, it was the Senate that invited the Auditor General to review its expenses, and we expect senators to assist in the process.

At the same time, this member could help us out by turning around and looking at his colleagues and asking the 68 of them who owe taxpayers $2.7 million to repay that money to the taxpayers. It is absolutely unacceptable that the NDP owes Canadian taxpayers $2.7 million for illegal partisan offices and are refusing to pay it back. They ought to do the right thing and pay back the taxpayers.

[Ethics, June 12th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely not correct, and the member knows that is not correct.

The Senate has invited in former justice Ian Binnie, and we support that process. Again, it was the Senate that invited in the Auditor General to review its expenses in the first place.

At the same time, Canadians do not differentiate. When parliamentarians owe them money, they want it back. That is why it is important that the 68 members of the NDP caucus who have been identified as owing $2.7 million to the Canadian people ought to pay it back. It is very clear that they need to pay back the money they owe.

[Ethics, June 12th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, as members know, it was the Senate that invited the Auditor General in to review its expenses, and it is the Senate that should respond to that report. We expect that the senators will abide by the recommendations.

At the same time, we know it is very public that the New Democrats owe the Canadian taxpayers $2.7 million for illegal offices. That is three times as much as has been identified by the Auditor General with respect to the senators' expenses. However, unlike some of the senators, the New Democrats are refusing to pay back the $2.7 million they owe. The member for Hochelaga owes—

[Ethics, June 12th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said on a number of occasions, the rules with respect to appointing senators have been clear for almost 150 years.

At the same time, it is worth highlighting that in 2013 when we were starting to eliminate direct voter subsidies, taxpayer subsidies for political parties, the New Democrats were in the middle of a scam to still get voter subsidies. Unfortunately, they did that by breaking the rules of this House. They cheated in order to help their political party. That is against the rules. That is not why taxpayers send us money. The New Democrats owe $2.7 million, and they might as well do the right thing and just pay it back.

[Harry Bowes Public School, June 12th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, as another school year comes to a close, I want to take the opportunity to thank the wonderful men and women, the staff and teachers of Harry Bowes Public School in my hometown of Stouffville. I have had the very fortunate opportunity to work closely with great teachers, such as Karen Smiley, Fern Grenon, Gail Sedgewick, Amy Davis, Vivienne Searles, and Kaitlin Eby. They are wonderful teachers who have spent a lot of time with my kids and all the kids in our great school, and who have provided a happy, safe, healthy learning environment. They have been ably led by Principal Dixon, who unfortunately will be leaving us for another school. This is an incredible place, where they take the time to learn and to give our kids all of the support they need.

I also want to highlight the work of Lori Davenport and Deb Battler, who know that when dad is in town, the kids might be a bit late getting to school. They have always been very patient.

On behalf of my family, and all the families in our community, I thank them so much for all the great work they do. They are very much appreciated.

[The Senate, June 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, that gentleman just called the words that I quoted a “another fairytale”. Unfortunately for him they are his words. These are the things that he said while he was throwing the member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley under the bus. He admitted that there was $189,000 debt, but it was not his, it was the previous occupant of the House leader's office. It was the member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley's debt.

There is one taxpayer. You owe them $2.7 million. Pay it back.

[Ethics, June 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, that is curious coming from that member because we were both on a panel not long ago and he was asked how he would pay back the $170,000 he owed the taxpayers. The member said, “No no no. Well, first off, Peter, those figures, they go for the previous [person] in the office”, mainly the member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley. The member admitted there was a debt and said that it was the member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley's debt.

We know the New Democrats tried to rip taxpayers off by only paying back 10% of the debt. They should pay back the $2.7 million they owe.

[Ethics, June 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, that is a member who on August 22 submitted forms to the House of Commons suggesting that she was going to hire somebody to work out of an office in Ottawa. On September 22, the member confirmed again that this office would be in Ottawa, against the rules of the House, against the wishes of taxpayers. The member then funnelled money out of her constituency to an illegal office in Montreal, along with 67 other members of that party. They should do the right thing and pay back the $2.7 million that they owe taxpayers.

[Ethics, June 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, as we said, it was the Senate that invited in the Auditor General to examine their expenses. He has tabled a report. As we have said all along, we expect that the senators will work with the Auditor General.

At the same time as the Auditor General found 30 senators who have some dilemmas with their expenses, the House has found that some 68 members of Parliament have problems with their expenses. All 68 of them happen to be NDP members of Parliament. The member who asked the question owes the taxpayers of her riding over $27,000, and she is refusing to pay it back.