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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 212

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 13, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 212 - Jun/13/23
Mr. Yves-François Blanchet (Beloeil—Chambly, BQ)
  • Jun/13/23 2:30:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the resignation of the special rapporteur appointed by the Prime Minister could turn out to be a turning point in the crisis surrounding the independent public inquiry. The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities showed signs of openness that I welcome with a mixture of enthusiasm and caution. I would like the Prime Minister to tell me if he would agree that the first thing that needs to be done, before any further action can be taken to bring this matter to a positive conclusion, is to put in place an independent public inquiry.
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Context: House Hansard - 212 - Jun/13/23
Mr. Michael Barrett (Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, CPC)
  • Jun/13/23 2:36:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians have not been encouraged by the inaction of the government. We heard today at committee that the deputy minister for foreign affairs knew for two years that members of this House were being targeted for intimidation by foreign state actors like the dictatorship in Beijing. What did the government do? Absolutely nothing. It is not a comedy of errors, it is a tragedy of errors with the government. Opposition parties have three times called for the government to have a public inquiry and have been ready to collaborate the entire time. Will the government now make up for lost time and the wasted months on this issue and finally call a transparent public inquiry?
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Context: House Hansard - 212 - Jun/13/23
Mr. Larry Brock (Brantford—Brant, CPC)
  • Jun/13/23 2:37:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, here we are. The government has wasted three months deflecting and dodging on this issue. Canadians have not been duped; no public inquiry, no truth and no responsibility has been shown by this government. Now, with David Johnston's resignation, the government has only one option, an open and independent inquiry. Canadians support it, the majority of this House supports it and even their very own Liberal minister declared that it was never off the table. When will this government call a public inquiry?
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Context: House Hansard - 212 - Jun/13/23
Mr. René Villemure (Trois-Rivières, BQ)
  • Jun/13/23 2:42:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is collaborating to ensure that a public inquiry into Chinese interference will finally be launched. We have submitted names of potential commissioners in order to foster a consensus and make sure that the government will finally launch this public inquiry before we rise for the summer. That said, the ball is in the government's court. Of course, no one will blindly accept this role after the way the government set up David Johnston. That is why the government needs to announce two things: First, that it is launching an independent public inquiry and, second, that the commissioner can specify their own mandate. When will the government finally tell us what it intends to do?
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Context: House Hansard - 212 - Jun/13/23
Mr. René Villemure (Trois-Rivières, BQ)
  • Jun/13/23 2:44:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, nobody in their right mind would accept that kind of position without making sure that they were independent from the government. That is why the government needs to announce a real commission of inquiry and give the commissioner the latitude they need concerning their mandate. At this point, the government's failure to disclose key details is the main thing holding up the inquiry. The government has been avoiding a public inquiry for almost four months now, while foreign interference continues, so it would be easy to believe that it is still trying to hold up the process. What is the government waiting for? When will it give the public all the facts?
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Context: House Hansard - 212 - Jun/13/23
Ms. Marie-Hélène Gaudreau (Laurentides—Labelle, BQ)
  • Jun/13/23 2:45:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, commissions of inquiry are not held to deal with simple issues. They are held to deal with sensitive issues where the information is not accessible, because those with the information are afraid or do not want to collaborate. Cleary, it is a delicate matter. Clearly, there will be times when proceedings are in camera. Commissions of inquiry provide for that. If it were not a sensitive matter, we would not need an independent public commission of inquiry, but that is where we are today. When will the government announce this independent public commission of inquiry ?
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