Wayne Long

[Privilege, December 2nd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I respect the member greatly.

There is a report today in the CBC, which states, “Agents of the Indian government allegedly attempted to derail [candidate's] campaign for the leadership of the Conservative Party in 2022, according to sources who spoke to Radio-Canada.” The article also states that the MP for Calgary Nose Hill “allegedly was pressured to withdraw her support for [that candidate]”, which she did.

One thing that is becoming more and more clear is that there is pressure on the leader opposite to get a security clearance. He is not doing it. Is there something he is hiding? That is my question.

[Privilege, December 2nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, my condolences to the member opposite for drawing the short straw and having to read that 20-minute speech.

The member opposite talks about accountability and leadership accountability. If there is any one thing that is starting to increase in my riding, it is the concern that the leader of the party opposite will not get a security clearance. People are becoming more concerned.

Now we see the CBC report of potential foreign interference in the Conservative leadership contest. We heard things about that when it happened. That kind of went away, but now it is back in the news. My question for the member opposite is this: What is his leader hiding?

[Privilege, December 2nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I came up yesterday with great anticipation that we would get some work done this week in the House of Commons for Canadians. Obviously, I am very disappointed. I am here to work on behalf of my constituents of Saint John—Rothesay. I am here to continue to advocate for stuff like our wonderful housing programs, our child care benefits, so on and so forth. However, we cannot get that work done for Canadians.

My first question for the member opposite is whether he is ready to get to work on behalf of Canadians. Second, we know that the Leader of the Opposition will not get a security clearance. Could the member talk to his leader and please encourage him to get that security clearance? More and more Canadians week in, week out are wondering what is up with the Leader of the Opposition.

[Privilege, November 21st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I know the member is new to the House, and I want to welcome him here. What a terrible example we are showing a new member of this House by tying up the House and our government, which has been going on for six weeks now.

The other terrible example that we are showing him is this: Are the members on that side allowed to speak up? We just went through the housing accelerator program. The Leader of the Opposition has told his MPs that they cannot advocate for it. Clearly, there are some across the aisle here who advocated for it, some who did not and some who wanted to but cannot say anything about it. Again, what a terrible example we are giving.

One thing I want to hone in on is what the member for Kingston and the Islands talked about when presenting his petition, which was that the leader of the Conservative Party will not get his security clearance. He has painted himself into a corner. We know that. If any one thing is growing across this country, it is the concern about the leader not getting his security clearance.

I would ask the member opposite to please talk to his leader and give him some advice about getting his security clearance so we can move on and he can protect Canadians and his party.

[Privilege, November 20th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I have to say that I really do not disagree with a lot of the member's speech. We all come here week in and week out. The member said we have been here now for six weeks, basically wasting our time and the time of the Canadians watching, just continuing on with the debacle. What puzzles me is that the member of the NDP and his party are supporting what is going on, and they could very easily end it and stop the affront to democracy.

My question for the member is this: Why are he and his party letting the charade continue? I certainly expect that from the Conservative Party opposite but not from the New Democratic Party. Why is the member supporting the Conservatives on this?

[Privilege, November 19th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I certainly want to thank and acknowledge my good friend across the House on his speech, although he must have drawn the short straw to have to get up and do that for 10 minutes.

However, I do have a question for him with respect to what the commissioner of the RCMP said. He said that:

...the RCMP's ability to receive and use information obtained through this production order and under the compulsory powers afforded by the Auditor General Act in the course of a criminal investigation could give rise to concerns under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is therefore highly unlikely that any information obtained by the RCMP under the Motion where privacy interests exists could be used to support a criminal prosecution or further a criminal investigation... There is significant risk that the Motion could be interpreted as a circumvention of normal investigative processes and Charter protections.

I know my friend opposite knows that what is happening in the House right now is a debacle; it is a waste of all of our time. We come up here to do good things for our ridings. I would like my friend opposite to respond to that quote.

[Committees of the House, November 18th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I come here, week in and week out, hoping we can get work done on behalf of Canadians. I had great hopes coming here today, but obviously I can see from the members opposite that that is not going to happen. All of us are elected here. We have the great privilege to be here, but that privilege needs to be taken seriously. I came here this week to talk about the wonderful initiatives we are bringing forward, like the housing accelerator fund that some Conservatives want, some do not, and others want but cannot get approval.

My question to my friend is the following. When are the Conservatives going to be ready to get back to work on behalf of all Canadians?

[Privilege, November 5th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I have a lot of respect for the member opposite and 20 years' service is absolutely incredible in this House. I take him at his word that he did not want to waste his time and ours this afternoon with that speech, but we did hear it.

I have a quote from the commissioner of the RCMP that I would like to read to the member opposite. He said:

...the RCMP's ability to receive and use information obtained through this production order and under the compulsory powers afforded by the Auditor General Act in the course of a criminal investigation could give rise to concerns under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is therefore highly unlikely that any information obtained by the RCMP under the Motion where privacy interests [exist] could be used to support a criminal prosecution or further a criminal investigation.

There is significant risk that the motion could be interpreted as a circumvention of normal investigative processes and Charter protections.

Again, I have a lot of respect for the member opposite, but I would like him to comment on the commissioner of the RCMP's words.

[Privilege, November 4th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, honestly, I think I am watching Groundhog Day or Inception. This goes round and round again.

My question straight up to the member opposite is this: Will you have the courage to encourage your leader to do the right thing and get his clearance? I know the leader has painted himself into a corner and has to get his feet wet getting out, but he needs to listen to Canadians. He needs to put Canadians' interests ahead of his own.

Will the member opposite encourage his leader, the leader of the Conservative Party, to do the right thing, get his clearance and put this issue to bed once and for all?

[Privilege, November 4th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I continue to be more and more frustrated. I come here week in and week out to do work on behalf of my beautiful riding of Saint John—Rothesay. None of us is getting work done.

However, I do want to home in on the Leader of the Opposition. Every member of the House, and every Canadian in fact, knows that there is a need for leaders of the parties to get a security clearance. We all recognize that. In my riding and right across Canada, voices are getting louder and louder asking why the leader of the Conservative Party refuses to get his clearance. Does he have something to hide? Should the leader not come forth and be honest with Canadians as to why he is not getting a security clearance?