Evidence of meeting #48 for Canadian Heritage in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was crtc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
When did you make your offer? Did you do it in writing? Did you fill out a form or write a letter to go along with your résumé?
3:45 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
As such for that position, no.
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
3:45 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I got a phone call. It's not that simple, Mr. Chairman.
3:45 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I got one in mid-August 2010 from a person named Edwige Henry. She told me that there was an interview date for the position in question.
3:50 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I would say that it was the following Monday, either August 21 or 22, somewhere around there.
3:50 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
We went to Ottawa.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
3:50 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I understand, but I am trying to answer your question.
We went there, and we were put into a room to wait for the interview.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
3:50 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
It was 80 Wellington Street. There were four or five people from various government offices. The interview lasted about an hour and a half. There were about a dozen questions.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
I am sorry for interrupting you, but I don't have much time.
Did you meet the Prime Minister following the interview?
3:50 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I have never met the Prime Minister in my life.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
During the interview, were you asked a question like "Would you be open to advice from the minister in your decisions?"
La Presse reported that the question was the following one. You return to the office after a hearing, you have a message in your voice mail from the minister and he wants to discuss the issue you just met on. What do you do?
It was a question like that which talked about, to be blunt, ministerial interference in CRTC decisions.
3:50 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
There was a question similar to that.
3:50 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I said that it wasn't our... that ethically speaking, it wasn't necessarily a good approach.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
So if you go back to the office and you get a call from the minister, you don't call him back?
3:50 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
When we are in the middle of a hearing or... There has to be some context.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
If you sat the interview in August, how is it that in December, you told Lawrence Martin that you had never heard anything about the appointment? Mr. Martin published that in his column.
3:50 p.m.
Vice-Chair (Appointee), Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Mr. Chairman, I do not recall having spoken to anyone named Lawrence Martin.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
In his column entitled Morning Brief in the December 9 edition of iPolitics, Lawrence Martin says that you had confirmed not ever being contacted or solicited regarding an appointment to the CRTC.