ETHICS COUNSELLOR IGNORES CALL FOR INQUIRY

February 05, 2003

OTTAWA – Today, Jay Hill, Member of Parliament for Prince George - Peace River, delivered the following statement in the House of Commons on the Prime Minister’s Ethics Counsellor, Howard Wilson.   

“During his time as Junior Minister of Amateur Sport, it was alleged the Immigration Minister personally intervened in awarding a half million-dollar contract to advertising firm, Groupe Everest, whose owner is a well-known, long-time friend of the Minister,” Hill said in statement today. 

“On November the 5th, three months ago today, following a suggestion made by the Deputy Prime Minister in Question Period, I wrote to the Ethics Counsellor Howard Wilson asking him to investigate. 

“Receiving no response, I again wrote Mr. Wilson on November 20th.  Once again, I received no response.  On December 5th, I attempted to personally raise this matter with Mr. Wilson in Committee but my questions were ruled out of order by the Liberal Chairman. 

“It is now February 5th and we still don’t know if the Minister of Immigration is guilty of a conflict of interest … but we do know the so-called Ethics Counsellor isn’t doing his job!”