Mr. Speaker, I repeat: if the party has received money from agencies or individuals who are found guilty, the party will voluntarily reimburse the taxpayers.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 71% of the vote.
Sponsorship Program April 5th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I repeat: if the party has received money from agencies or individuals who are found guilty, the party will voluntarily reimburse the taxpayers.
Sponsorship Program April 5th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the party has been clear. We are going to defend the taxpayers. We are going to defend the Quebec federalists. Our government is suing agencies and individuals to recover this money. The party has been clear: if it has received inappropriate funds, it will reimburse the taxpayers.
Sponsorship Program April 5th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc wants to blacken the reputation of all Quebec federalists. We all know its agenda: federalism must not succeed.
The Conservatives ought not to support the Bloc's goal of destroying Canada. The Prime Minister supports Justice Gomery, and we need to wait for his report.
Sponsorship Program April 5th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc wants to destroy Canada and the reputation of all federalists. It does not want to give Justice Gomery a chance to finish his work.
It is possible to understand the separatists, but it is impossible to understand why the Conservative Party supports the Bloc. It is a very dangerous game.
As my mother would say, “This is utter hogwash!”
Sponsorship Program April 5th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the separatists do not want Justice Gomery to succeed. The Bloc wants to force an election using unproven testimony, without all the facts and without the Gomery report. That may be good enough for the separatists, but it is not good enough for Canada.
We appointed Justice Gomery and we want to know the truth. The Prime Minister supported Justice Gomery, and we are waiting for his report.
Sponsorship Program March 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, again, this Prime Minister has taken significant action and has demonstrated real leadership by appointing Justice Gomery to do his work and by putting Mr. Gauthier in a position where we as a government are going after these funds to ensure that they come back to the taxpayer.
Furthermore, the party has been clear that any funds gained inappropriately will be returned to the Canadian people.
Let us be clear. There are thousands, tens of thousands, of Quebec Liberals, good federalists who have worked for decades to try to keep this country together. I personally resent that kind of slander from individuals like that attacking good federalists in Quebec who are working hard to keep the country together.
Sponsorship Program March 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the fact is, I have already answered that question. The Liberal Party has been clear that any money that was gained inappropriately will be returned, but I want to make a point here. For decades good people in Quebec have done important work on behalf of the federalist cause. A lot of these people have had their integrity unfairly tarnished by what has happened here, and we have a responsibility as a government and as a party to get to the bottom of this such that we can defend the integrity of all Quebec Liberals, of all Quebec federalists.
This Prime Minister takes that responsibility very seriously and we are going to get the job done.
Sponsorship Program March 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister has demonstrated real action. He has demonstrated real leadership and courage by setting up the Gomery commission. Canadians recognize the Prime Minister's openness and his commitment to the truth.
Today's Globe and Mail in fact says that the Prime Minister “chose another option. He took the high road”. The opposition should take the example from the Prime Minister and take the high road as well and wait for Justice Gomery to complete his work.
Sponsorship Program March 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, first of all, we have pursued action to recover funds for the Canadian taxpayer. While we have pursued action, we do not have a verdict. Furthermore, Justice Gomery has not completed his work.
We cannot act on allegations. We act as a responsible government, based on facts, and we expect the party to do so, but let us be clear. The party has said absolutely that any funds attained inappropriately will be returned to the Canadian taxpayer. That is the right thing to do. That is a promise made. That will be a promise kept.
Sponsorship Program March 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has made himself clear. The party has made itself clear. If the party received funds from agencies or individuals who are found guilty, the party has volunteered to repay taxpayers. However, this is not possible until all the facts are known.