Thank you, Mr. Speaker and honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, with the contract of the ethics counsellor being administered by the secretary to Cabinet, I think that this unfortunately leaves room for a perception problem. There is not enough separation from the deputies' table. The ethics counsellor prepares reports for deputy ministers.
I would like to remind members of government, Mr. Speaker, that the conflict panel report recommended legislation to protect whistleblowers, to ensure there were no reprisals in the work place that interfered with an employee's ethical obligation to report concerns about situations of conflict. Instead, again we have something that is covered only by a code under which an employee should report concerns about conflict to their deputy minister. How often will that happen if both employees work for the same deputy minister?
Mr. Speaker, a code does not accomplish the same thing as whistleblower legislation would. Mr. Speaker, our employees deserve independent advice on potential conflicts, and that means independent of government. Just as Members of this House can seek advice from an officer at arm's length from government, our employees deserve the same. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause