Government Appointments

In question period, members debated the appointment of Diana Fox Carney, the Prime Minister’s wife, as Canada’s ocean envoy. The Conservatives said she was given an official role with over $1.2 billion in public funds by her own husband, and called on Liberals to let her appear at the fisheries committee to explain her mandate and priorities, noting that a committee motion to invite her was blocked. Liberals replied that she is a climate policy expert who is volunteering for the role, described the attack as spurious, and pointed to the government’s record on ocean protection, including work on southern resident killer whales on the west coast.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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2 statements

John Brassard, Barrie South—Innisfil

Conservative
“The Liberals blocked a committee motion to have the Prime Minister's wife testify about her new government role. She should have to explain her work and how she plans to oversee 1.2 billion dollars in public funds. If there is nothing to hide, the Liberals should let her answer questions.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, yesterday at the fisheries and oceans committee, the Liberals blocked a motion to have the Prime Minister’s wife, Diana Fox Carney, appear to explain her appointment as Canada’s new ocean envoy. The request was straightforward: explain her mandate, her priorities and how she plans to oversee more than $1.2 billion in taxpayer funding tied to the role created by her husband, the Prime Minister. If there is nothing to hide, why are the Liberals preventing Mrs. Carney from appearing before the committee responsible for fisheries and oceans, and being accountable to Canadians for this appointment and the taxpayer funds associated with it?

John Brassard, Barrie South—Innisfil

Conservative
“The Prime Minister gave his wife an official role with over $1.2 billion in tax dollars. The government is not a family business, and insiders should not be helping themselves while Canadians suffer. I want Diana Fox Carney to come to the fisheries committee to explain her role and answer to Canadians.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Diana Fox Carney has been given an official government role that her husband, the Prime Minister, created, and she has been given more than 1.2 billion tax dollars to work with. The government is not a family-run business. It is not The Sopranos, but it is looking more and more like well-connected Liberal insiders are taking care of themselves while the people they govern are suffering. If that is not the case, why not allow Mrs. Carney to come to the committee responsible for fisheries and oceans to explain her role and be accountable to Canadians?

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