SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Minister of National Defence

Hon. Bill Blair

  • Member of Parliament
  • Minister of National Defence
  • Liberal
  • Scarborough Southwest
  • Ontario
  • Voting Attendance: 65%
  • Expenses Last Quarter: $115,019.32

  • Government Page
Context: House Hansard - 95 - Jun/23/22
Hon. Bill Blair (President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Lib.)
  • Jun/23/22 3:11:37 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I would state that any criticism of Superintendent Campbell is crass political self-interest from the member opposite. There has been no criticism of Superintendent Campbell, just a simple statement of fact. The simple statement of fact is that there was no interference in this case. The commissioner has confirmed it. There was no interference, no pressure, no promise. Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
66 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 95 - Jun/23/22
Hon. Bill Blair (President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Lib.)
  • Jun/23/22 2:45:46 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the only thing being made up is his criticism of Superintendent Campbell; I offer none. I am absolutely certain the man is an exemplary police officer and a man of integrity, and I have no criticism of him. What I am advising this House, however, is that there was no interference in this case. There was no pressure brought upon the commissioner for any reason, and the commissioner has— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
78 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 95 - Jun/23/22
Hon. Bill Blair (President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Lib.)
  • Jun/23/22 2:44:27 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I have absolutely no doubt Superintendent Campbell is in fact an exemplary officer and I have absolutely no intention of questioning his integrity. However, I also want to make it very clear that there was no interference in this case for any reason. With respect to the prohibition of assault rifles, it was something we were deeply committed to. The vicious murder of 22 Canadians using firearms deepened our resolve to make Canadians safe and to keep our promise.
81 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 95 - Jun/23/22
Hon. Bill Blair (President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Lib.)
  • Jun/23/22 2:35:53 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, again, as I understand it, Superintendent Campbell referred to a conversation, to which we were not party, that he had with his commissioner. I am not in any way questioning the man's integrity. My understanding is that he is an exemplary police officer. Let me be very clear: There was no interference in this matter, and the commissioner has confirmed that in the statement she released on Tuesday.
71 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 95 - Jun/23/22
Hon. Bill Blair (President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Lib.)
  • Jun/23/22 2:25:15 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I have absolutely no doubt that Superintendent Campbell is an exemplary officer, and I do not question his integrity in any way. I would simply remind this House that the fact is that there was no interference in this matter and the commissioner of the RCMP herself issued a statement on Tuesday, in which she said very clearly that there was no interference and no pressure brought to bear. Those are the facts. I would also remind the member opposite that we have initiated an independent public inquiry that is examining these very issues, and that work will be very important to the families of the victims of this tragedy.
112 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 94 - Jun/22/22
Hon. Bill Blair (President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Lib.)
  • Jun/22/22 2:55:29 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, as I have already made clear, I have never had a conversation with Mr. Campbell. The conversations between the commissioner and her subordinates are something she can speak to. However, I would reiterate for the member opposite that the independence of law enforcement operations is a key principle of our democracy, which is respected and defended by our government. I can assure the member that at no point did our government pressure or interfere in any of the operational communication decisions of the RCMP. I would direct the member to the commissioner's statement, in which she makes it crystal clear that no such interference took place.
109 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border