Canadian Heritage Committee on June 5th, 2013

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Let's not call people liars.

I mean, Mr. Bureau told me directly, and my office—

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

I didn't call.... I asked if there was a public statement of support from the mayor.

I didn't call you anything, Minister, with the greatest respect. I asked a simple question: was there a public statement? That's all.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Ask his office about that. He told me.

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

We already know that Bill C-60 will give powers to cabinet to set terms of employment for all staff at the museum—

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Mr. Cash, we're on Bill C-49.

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

I know. I'm going to get to it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

You have the last question, and you have a few minutes, so bring it on to—

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

It's because this is related to independence. We know that many experts are saying that the independence of crown corporations will be compromised by this.

So when you said “we” had the idea to make changes to the museum, who is “we”, first of all?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Well, I did. I talked to a bunch of colleagues. I talked to the president of the museum at the time, to members of the board, to historians. I talked to one of my old history professors from back in university; I said, what do you think of this idea? I talk to people in museums across the country all the time, and I say, what do you think of this idea?

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

How often do you speak to Mr. O'Neill?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I don't know. Where is Mark?

I talked to him just before this meeting.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

Do you and he frequently converse?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Through the course of this legislation, not any more often than I've spoken with presidents of other museums.

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

And how about e-mails and visits and meetings?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I don't have his e-mail address.

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

So what sort of things do you speak about with him?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

His favourite colour, what he likes in his hot dog. Important things like that....

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Come on. We talk about public....

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

Well, this is just it. Are there notes and records of these meetings?

[An hon. member]

You're not a prosecutor.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Come on. He's a conspiracy theorist.

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, we have the minister for a short period of time. We're talking about Bill C-49, not Mr. O'Neill's e-mail address.

[Andrew Cash, NDP, Davenport, ON]

I wasn't asking for Mr. O'Neill's e-mail address—