Procedure and House Affairs committee  I know that the member is going to find this difficult to understand, but rule 4.1 is about using House of Commons' money to rent parliamentary office space. The NDP did not use House of Commons' money. That's what's been established. I will offer again; they haven't accepted the

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It's so clear from the documents that I have, Mr. Christopherson. I guess that's the reason why the Conservatives don't want to look at them, because it disproves their thesis. I have them here. We've made copies for everyone. They can see that every single penny of every month o

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I have said it on several occasions. It is spelled out, not in a form or a booklet, but in a by-law made under this country's master statute, the Parliament of Canada Act. In accordance with that by-law, we are entitled to set up our staff and to have them work where w

Procedure and House Affairs committee  We have always complied with all regulations, Mr. Chair. That is clearly stated in all the documents I have just put before the committee. I have acted in an open and transparent manner since the start of this exercise today.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The employees who work in Ottawa have a very real right to go and lend a hand, for example, in the organization of a press conference in Montreal. In that case, mileage should be paid. We make better use of taxpayers' money when we concentrate a portion of our staff where they ar

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Mr. Chairman, section 1 of the Members By-Law states that “the duties and activities that relate to the position of Member, wherever performed and whether or not performed in a partisan manner” constitute parliamentary functions. That's the definition we've always respected. Our

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Since no one is questioning—

Procedure and House Affairs committee  —because section 1 couldn't be clearer on the fact that employees are allowed to work wherever we assign them, the difference is that we're making a better use of taxpayers' money. Instead of paying back and forth in kilometres from Ottawa to Montreal to take care of a press conf

Procedure and House Affairs committee  We have always indicated, and rightly so, that home base for those employees for administrative purposes was Ottawa. Working at an office for which rent was paid by the party was entirely accepted, acceptable, legitimate and lawful until April 8, 2014. We obeyed the rules before

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you. Your question consists of two parts. I will address them one after the other. This is important for Parliament. It appears in section 1 of the most important by-law enacted pursuant to the act governing the House of Commons. It is a worthwhile exercise to read that se

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The most intriguing part is that the new rule will not apply until 2015. Why do they want to abolish it after the election? No one is saying.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, we obeyed the rules at every stage. The House of Commons was aware, at every stage, of the staff we were hiring in Montreal.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Well, I also understand that when this change was made on April 8, 2014 it was conclusive proof that it wasn't interdicted prior to that date. So we respected the rules before and the minute this new rule was adopted and this amendment was brought in, we respected that as well.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  There was nothing until April 8, 2014, that interdicted it. That's why the rule was brought in, the new rule. The rule changed. The amendment was brought in and interdicted it, and we've respected the new rule ever since.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm sorry, I'm not sure I caught the sense of your question, Mr. Woodworth. Would you like to try again?