House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 71% of the vote.
Sponsorship Program April 12th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte were engaged proactively by the party to get to the bottom of the issue. The reports were provided to Justice Gomery. We are cooperating fully with Justice Gomery.
It is also notable that the reports did say that all contributions were handled and receipted properly. If there were profiteers who were operating below the radar screen of the party, we want to ensure that those individuals are punished.
Canada Border Services Agency April 11th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I had not been aware of the hon. member's affinity for the Hell's Angels but if they knew how he felt about loyalty, I do not think the Hell's Angels would even take him.
The fact is that Susan Riley, in the Ottawa Citizen, said:
The controversial testimony [of witnesses] is uncorroborated. You would think a lawyer and former Crown prosecutor, like [the member for Central Nova], would understand the dangers of leaping to conclusions on the basis of a partial, and possibly coloured, account of events.
The prudent thing would be to await Judge Gomery's report as [the] Public Works Minister...keeps repeating....
Sponsorship Program April 11th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that we are committed to getting to the bottom of this issue and ensuring justice for Canadians and, at the same time, retrieving money for the Canadian taxpayer. We are standing up for the Canadian taxpayer and we will continue to fight for federalism and a strong and united Canada.
I know she and I disagree on that but we in this party stand for a strong, united Canada with Quebec playing a vital role within that Canada.
Sponsorship Program April 11th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the program was aimed at strengthening the presence of the Government of Canada in the regions of the country, particularly during a unity crisis, but if profiteers took advantage of the laudable goals of this program to commit malfeasance against Canadians, then we want to ensure that they are punished and that the money is returned, as it should be.
Sponsorship Program April 11th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I invite the hon. member to go outside the House and make that exact allegation because I bet that outside the House, without the privilege of Parliament that he is abusing here today, he would be less likely to do that.
Beyond that, the Prime Minister has worked assiduously to get to the bottom of this issue by ending the sponsorship program, by appointing Justice Gomery, by cooperating completely with Justice Gomery and by going after $41 million of--
Sponsorship Program April 11th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has committed himself to get to the bottom of this issue. That is why he established the Gomery commission. That is why--
Sponsorship Program April 11th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to hear members now attack Jean Brault when a few minutes ago they were presenting his testimony as sacrosanct.
That is the point. Canadians trust Judge Gomery to get to the bottom of this. They do not necessarily trust individual testimony from someone like Jean Brault who is currently facing criminal charges, fraud charges and a lawsuit of over $30 million from the Government of Canada.
Sponsorship Program April 11th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, it was the Liberal Party that engaged two auditors, PwC and Deloitte, to do a full audit of the books of the Liberal Party. That audited information has been provided to Justice Gomery. We are working with Justice Gomery's auditors to ensure that we get to the bottom of this. It is the Liberal Party that wants to ensure that any profiteer who operated below the screen of the Liberal Party is brought to justice and is punished appropriately
Sponsorship Program April 11th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, first of all the Liberal Party has been clear from the beginning that any funds that were received inappropriately will be returned to Canadians.
Beyond that, the hon. member quotes from the witness's testimony this morning. I think she should also quote that individual contradicting Mr. Brault's testimony from last week. If the hon. member is going to talk about this witness's testimony, she should refer to his contradictory testimony about what Mr. Brault said.
Sponsorship Program April 11th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, these are serious allegations, but not facts. There is no verdict.
The only way we are going to have that verdict, that result, is to wait for Justice Gomery to complete his work. We do not fear that verdict, because we want the truth. We are willing to support Justice Gomery until we have that truth because that is what Canadians deserve, the truth, and that is what our government, our party and our Prime Minister want as well, the truth.
Members opposite want to get to the polls. We want to get to the truth and that is what Canadians want.