IN THE HOUSE – ‘Will finance minister come and explain special deal?’

Excerpt from debate in Parliament on Monday, April 1, 2019 on the SNC-Lavalin affair.

Rosemarie Falk (Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK – Conservative)

Mr. Speaker, it seems like we are hearing new truths coming every day which would warrant the justice committee to investigate further. Liberals are saying that there is nothing new on this SNC scandal, but last week we heard substantial new evidence from the former attorney general, and Gerald Butts has also tabled new evidence with the committee. Clearly the justice committee’s investigation was not complete. Canadians still want answers to questions like, what did the Prime Minister’s chief of staff mean when she said that she did not want to debate legalities anymore?

Bardish Chagger (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons – Liberal)

Mr. Speaker, it is important that Canadians be able to hear for themselves, and, once again, that is exactly why the Prime Minister waived solicitor-client privilege as well as cabinet confidence. This is an unprecedented action that took place, because the Prime Minister recognizes it is important for Canadians to be able to hear for themselves. These committee meetings took place in public and Canadians were able to hear them. Members of the committee asked for additional documents to be submitted and those documents have now been submitted. That once again confirms that the system is working and that Canadians can have confidence in the system.

Cathy McLeod (Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC – Conservative)

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister’s staff said, “it’s just a bit ironic that she wants an alternative justice process to be available in one sense, but not one for SNC.” It seems like the entire Liberal government has been seized with getting bribery charges dropped against SNC. As a little reminder, that included $30,000 for Gadhafi’s son for prostitutes in Canada.

The finance minister believes that this company should get a special deal. I have a simple question: Will the Liberals let him come to the justice committee and explain to Canadians why?

Bardish Chagger (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons – Liberal)

Mr. Speaker, we know that the justice committee studied this matter over five weeks, which is longer than most pieces of legislation are even studied at committee. We know that the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is currently investigating this matter. We know that there is an ongoing court case. We know that when it comes to deferred prosecution agreements, this is a new tool that went through the House of Commons, was voted on and it is a legal measure that can be considered.

What is interesting is that we hear this sanctimony from the other side, but where was that member from the Conservative Party when it voted against measures for women and gender programs, when it voted against programs for seniors and when it voted against—?

Source: openparliament.ca