Ethics  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Strahl was not only not forced to resign; the Ethics Commissioner said very clearly there was not a scintilla of evidence that he had done anything wrong whatsoever. Chuck Strahl is one of the most honourable and decent people I have ever worked with in the Parliament of Canada.

Ethics  I immediately insisted that those facts be made public and that Mr. Wright consult the Ethics Commissioner. As is also known, I did accept Mr. Wright's resignation. He has accepted full responsibility for his actions. He admits it was an error in judgment and he is prepared and will be prepared to accept the full accountability and consequences with the Ethics Commissioner.

Ethics  Speaker, clearly, I was not the one who wrote the cheque. It was Mr. Wright. I do not know. An investigation is being conducted by the Ethics Commissioner. Mr. Wright agreed to take full responsibility for his actions. He is prepared to give the commissioner all of the information required and he will accept the consequences.

Ethics  Wright informed me of his payment to Senator Duffy on May 15. I immediately required that matter to be disclosed, both to the Ethics Commissioner and to the public. At the same time, I did ask Mr. Wright whether he had any similar arrangements or had discussed any similar arrangements or had any similar arrangements with other senators, and he said no.

Ethics  He has been very clear that he is prepared to be accountable and answer all questions from the Ethics Commissioner and all authorities, and he is doing that.

Ethics  He admitted that this was an error in judgment and he is prepared to be accountable to the authorities, including the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.

Ethics  He wanted the taxpayers reimbursed, and he is prepared to be accountable before the Ethics Commissioner and others for his decision in that matter, which he admits was an error in judgment.

Ethics  That is a decision he took on his own that he chose not to inform me about. He admits that was an error in judgment, and he will be accountable to the Ethics Commissioner for that decision.

Ethics  For that, he has accepted full, sole responsibility. He has agreed to resign. He is subject to an investigation and examination by the Ethics Commissioner, on which I anticipate he will be fully co-operative.

Ethics  Obviously, as I have said repeatedly, the arrangements between Mr. Duffy and Mr. Wright are a matter of inquiry of the ethics commissioners of both houses of this Parliament, and we will provide any support necessary in those examinations.

Ethics  Wright took, using his own resources, on which he is now subject to examination and accountability by the Ethics Commissioner.

Ethics  Speaker, once more, this was an arrangement between Mr. Wright and Mr. Duffy. I am expecting the ethics commissioners in each house of Parliament to look into these questions.

Ethics  He offered his resignation, and I accepted that resignation. As we know, he will be subject to an examination by the Ethics Commissioner, and that is the accountability mechanism we have put in place for these kinds of things.

Ethics  Speaker, the arrangement in question that the leader speaks to was, of course, between Mr. Wright and Mr. Duffy. It is a matter of examination by the ethics commissioners in each chamber of this Parliament, and obviously, should we be asked to produce any kind of information, we would be happy to do so.

Ethics  This is a matter between Mr. Wright and Mr. Duffy. It is the subject of an examination by the ethics commissioners in both houses of Parliament. What I think Canadians are completely bewildered about is why the leader of the Liberal Party thinks now is an appropriate time to try to pit one region against another region over the question of Senate reform.