Mr. Speaker, first of all, I’ll thank the Member from Thebacha for bringing forward the concern. If he felt there was an issue, I appreciate him bringing it and highlighting it as an issue.
Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I have to cite a book called Beauchesne’s, which this Assembly is very familiar with. It talks about tone and intent. I’m bringing forward the tone and intent and concerns of my constituents who sent family members to that community.
Mr. Speaker, on page 28 of yesterday’s Hansard I explicitly qualified my comments by stating that there was no mal-intention intended with respect to my remarks that called into question the independence of an internal conduct review. I was stating and simply seeking an independent examination.
Furthermore, I questioned that the independence of a review conducted internally by a senior member
embedded within an organization can hardly be called independent or showing objectivity. One with a vested interest in a program or review hardly seems fair.
Mr. Speaker, I did not specifically name that person — I named the position that they represent all along. This is something we witness time and time again when a Crown corporation and other departments are placed under scrutiny of independent lenses. This ensures confidence in the outcomes of public and elected officials to determine a course of action with an independent review.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I further comment that the Member’s point of view was not raised in a timely fashion — from my point of view, given his presence in this House — because he is a very capable Minister and a Member with long-standing presence. I would assert that, on page 97 of Beauchesne’s, attention must be directed to a breach of order at the proper moment — namely, the moment it occurred.
Mr.
Speaker, I will recognize officially that the
Member may have had some concern with the tone. It is a tone, and I will pass on an apology for the tone. However, I was bringing concerns directly brought forward by my constituents — a number of constituents, Mr. Speaker. I will close with that at this time.