Paul Calandra

[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, January 31st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, last night the CBC aired a misleading report on Canada's signals intelligence agency, the Communications Security Establishment Canada. The documents cited were stolen by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and sold to the CBC by Glenn Greenwald. Canada's signals intelligence agency has been clear that the CBC story is incorrect, yet the CBC went ahead and published it anyway.

Here are the facts: before the story aired, CSEC made it clear that nothing in the stolen documents showed that Canadians' communications were targeted, collected, or used, nor that travellers' movements were tracked. In addition, CSEC's activities are regularly reviewed by an independent watchdog who has consistently found it has followed the law.

Why is furthering porn-spy Glenn Greenwald's agenda and lining his Brazilian bank account more important than maintaining the public broadcaster's journalistic integrity?

[Ethics, January 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said to an earlier question, ministers of the crown and their staff do have access to legal assistance for the things they undertake in their role as staff or as ministers. This is a policy that predates our government. It is a long-standing policy.

I can appreciate that the member might not have had a chance to read or acquaint herself with that, since the NDP has lost 16 straight elections and has never served in government.

[Ethics, January 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the actions of Senator Duffy and Nigel Wright are being investigated by the RCMP, and we will let it continue its investigation.

[Ethics, January 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, quite clearly in these documents it states the leadership that the Prime Minister did show.

He went into his office immediately and insisted that his office assist the RCMP in its investigation. Staff has, of course, provided all necessary waivers to assist the RCMP. Thousands of emails were turned over.

That is the type of leadership I think most Canadians have come to depend on from this Prime Minister, and it is the type of leadership we will continue to provide Canadians.

[Ethics, January 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister stated the other day, it is a long-standing government policy that predates our government where ministers of the crown and their staff do have access to legal assistance with respect to the activities they undertake as part of the government function.

[Ethics, January 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the documents submitted by the RCMP quite clearly indicate who is under investigation, and that is Senator Duffy and Nigel Wright.

[Ethics, January 29th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has always demanded the highest ethical standards from his caucus and staffers.

That is the example, of course, that this Prime Minister has set since the first day he was elected the leader of our party. Contrast that to the opposition that accepted illegal contributions from their big boss union friends. Members opposite accept donations from individuals who are lobbying them to make changes on policy.

When it comes to accountability, we have taken action. We have shown leadership. That is what Canadians expect, and that is what we are delivering.

[Ethics, January 29th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister and this government have always had the highest ethical standards. That has been the norm since this Prime Minister was elected the leader of our party.

When it comes to ethics, this is a gentleman who really has nerve getting up and asking those questions. When we look at the donations that he has accepted into his EDA, he seems to have gone after the very same people who are lobbying him with respect to his file.

That does not show the same type of standard the member is advocating here. At the same time, we know he has broken Elections Canada rules with respect to how his last campaign went. He also sends out press releases saying how great a job we are doing, but he votes against it.

[Ethics, January 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, of course this is a government that has maintained the highest ethical standards of all time. One of the first items of business that we brought in was the Federal Accountability Act.

This is coming from a member who has raised thousands of dollars himself from the communities that he represents, in the shadow cabinet of the leader of the opposition. This is also a member who issued a press release over the holidays praising all of the investments we have done in the north, including in his riding, but he voted against every single one of those investments. We will continue to do right by Canadians and all those people in his riding.

[Ethics, January 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, what was quite clear yesterday was that the Prime Minister stated that we had the utmost confidence in Mr. Strahl. Mr. Strahl is an individual who served his country and his community for many years. When we leave this place we should all aspire to have the same reputation that he had when he left. He is an individual of the highest ethical standards. We are very proud of the work he did. Canadians should also be proud of the work he did. Unfortunately, the NDP is trying to turn it into a political thing. This is an individual we are proud of.