Stephen Harper

[Food Safety, November 26th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, that just does not accurately represent what the Auditor General found overall. In fact, the Consumers' Association of Canada stated, “The Government's enhanced recall warnings will provide consumers with better information regarding steps they should take during food recalls”.

It has been noted we brought in tougher penalties, enhanced controls on E. coli, new meat labelling requirements, and more than 750 new inspectors, and, by the way, as we have done those things and made those investments, the NDP has voted against them every step of the way.

[Rail Transportation, November 26th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary. The Auditor General notes that we have a system that works most of the time. In fact, accidents are on the decline in Canada. The Auditor General also notes that our government has made new investments since coming into power. However, he made some important recommendations that the government will accept and act on.

[Justice, November 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the question and her interest in this issue.

Too many young lives have been lost in Canada as a result of bullying, and more recently as a result of cyberbullying.

I have met with victims of these families, and we have pledged to take action. Today our government will be tabling legislation on these specific matters.

Let me just say, I think we all understand here that nothing we do can bring back the precious lives that have been lost, but hopefully the actions we are taking today will do some things to change things in the future and will also provide these families with some sense that their concerns are taken seriously and some sense of justice for their daughters.

[Ethics, November 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP clearly said that Mr. Wright and Mr. Duffy are the ones under investigation here. We obviously expect the RCMP to continue its work and we will provide assistance to ensure that these individuals are held accountable.

[Ethics, November 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the documents make clear there are two individuals who are under investigation, Mr. Wright and Mr. Duffy, as has been said from the outset of this affair.

Let me say specifically, what the RCMP says about the PMO. The RCMP investigator reports that he had “clear orders from the Prime Minister to provide complete cooperation with the investigation, and to provide any assistance or documentation the RCMP requested”. That is exactly what we have done.

[Ethics, November 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the record is very clear. From all documents, the sole responsibility for these actions rests with Mr. Wright and with Mr. Duffy. That is why these two individuals are under investigation. Mr. Wright has accepted his responsibility and co-operated fully. That is not the case for Mr. Duffy.

We will ensure that we provide all co-operation and assistance to ensure that those who are responsible are held accountable.

[Ethics, November 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, if the Leader of the Opposition wants to cite the RCMP, he would note that it is these two individuals who are under investigation for what was an improper payment, I think something Mr. Wright himself admits.

That is the appropriate thing, that those who undertook these actions be held responsible and accountable.

[Ethics, November 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that Mr. Wright repaid Mr. Duffy's expenses, although the two of them let it be known, to the contrary, that it was Mr. Duffy himself who had repaid his expenses.

That was obviously not the appropriate thing to do. That is why those two individuals have been sanctioned and are under further investigation.

[Ethics, November 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, from the beginning, my position has been that Mr. Duffy had to pay back his own expenses.

When I learned that that was not what he had done, I took the appropriate action.

[Ethics, November 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is in black and white that I did not know. The RCMP confirms it. Unlike the Leader of the Opposition, it did not take it 17 years to figure that out.