Friday, May 9, 2008

Judy Sgro Questions the Government on the Mulroney Public Inquiry

Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.):  

Mr. Speaker, it has been more than six months since the Prime Minister promised an inquiry into the Mulroney-Schreiber affair and over a month since the government received the final report from Dr. Johnston.

Can the government House leader please tell us when the commissioner is going to be named? Also, will it be a true public inquiry or will it be held in secret and behind closed doors?

Hon. Peter Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, I anticipate that very soon a commissioner will be appointed to conduct the inquiry consistent with the terms of Professor Johnston.

As we indicated, there are some legitimate questions of public interest that need to be delved into and they will be. They were not delved into properly at the committee that dealt with the matter in the House of Commons, although that did provide some useful information. It will be a public inquiry and we look forward to that announcement soon.

Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.):

Mr. Speaker, it was over a month ago that the government House leader said, “We expect that will happen very soon”. It clearly turns out that “very soon” means in their own sweet time.

I know the government is tied up with one ethical crisis after another, but how could it possibly have forgotten this one? Or is this crisis just too large and the spin unit in the PMO just too busy to deal with another one?