Why Documents Matter
By Damien Kurek
Battle River-Crowfoot MP
There has been a lot of news about confidence votes in Parliament as of late. While these votes make headlines, they have, so far, not forced an election. Regardless, Conservatives will keep working to bring accountability back to the Government of Canada. Constituents of Battle River – Crowfoot have shared many reasons why an election is needed, from the carbon tax to scandals to poor economic management. And among those reasons is an erosion of trust in our institutions due to the disregard this Prime Minister and his cabinet have towards the will of Parliament and Canadians.
This was highlighted again this past week when the Speaker of the House of Commons found the Liberal Government in violation of the Members’ privilege by refusing to disclose documents relating to a scandal with Sustainable Development Technologies Canada (SDTC). The background of this is that Liberals appointees gave themselves and their own companies millions in contracts, and even senior civil servants have slammed the contracting as “outright incompetence.”
We are pushing for an election to restore accountability and transparency. Recent scandals, like SDTC and Arrive Scam, have eroded the country’s trust in the Liberals and have damaged our very institutions. These actions are breaches of ethics and betrayals of public trust.
There is much to fix in this country. However, Canada can be rebuilt. Common Sense Conservatives are committed to doing the hard work which will restore trust. It’s not just about getting documents from the Government; it is about respecting Parliament. Canadians are tired of the lack of accountability and the erosion of trust in our government.
It used to be that even if you did not like the party in charge, we could trust the institutions which govern us. This trust in our institutions is fundamental to a healthy democracy. Without it, we risk losing the very fabric holding our society together and the democracy that we depend on. The recent violation of privilege underscores the importance of the people's voices in Parliament as it should be in our Westminster parliamentary system, not the current Prime Ministerial supremacy in play.
We envision a future where trust is restored and the government works for Canadians, not for insiders and special interests. In the words of Pierre Poilievre: “...bring home the promise of Canada, where a powerful paycheck pays for affordable food, gas, homes, and safe neighborhoods where anyone from anywhere can do anything. The biggest and most open land of opportunity the world has ever seen, that is our vision.”
The Conservative Party is committed to ensuring every Canadian can succeed. This includes enacting policies which promote economic growth, reduce the cost of living, and ensure safe communities. We believe in a Canada where hard work is rewarded, and everyone has the chance to achieve their dreams. And when it comes to combatting ethical violations, this is key to restoring the loss of trust in our institutions; I am proud to stand with Conservative Shadow Minister of Ethics, Michael Barrett, whose Private Member’s Bill C-405 would give jail time for people who lie to Parliament.
Documents matter not only in getting to the bottom of scandals but in restoring trust in our institutions. That is why Conservatives won’t stop pushing for answers. As your Member of Parliament, I won’t stop working for you, pushing for an election, and ensuring we can get back to a place of trust in the foundational institutions of our country. Thank you for the honour of serving you in Parliament and every day.