Evidence of meeting #10 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mulroney.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:15 a.m.
P.C., As an Individual
The transaction, Mr. Ménard, was not only legitimate, but also perfectly legal, but I admit that the circumstances give rise to fears—the English word is perhaps more precise—of impropriety.
10:15 a.m.
P.C., As an Individual
And that is why, Mr. Ménard, I explained to you, I accepted responsibility and I apologized.
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
I have one last question, Mr. Mulroney. Do you know why $1,000 bills were eliminated?
10:15 a.m.
P.C., As an Individual
Yes, absolutely. It was precisely to avoid transactions of $1,000.
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
No, it was because those bills were generally used for illegal purposes.
10:15 a.m.
P.C., As an Individual
Yes, that is what I was saying.
But you are not saying or you are not suggesting that there was anything illegal about that transaction?
10:20 a.m.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
I am suggesting that it should have suggested to you that there was something illegal.
10:20 a.m.
P.C., As an Individual
There was nothing illegal. It was a legitimate transaction, and absolutely a legitimate and legal one. There was nothing illegal involved.
What you are right about, Mr. Ménard, is that it should have suggested caution, and it was something to think about. That, I will admit.
10:20 a.m.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
It should have suggested that you were acting like someone involved in an illegal transaction.
10:20 a.m.
P.C., As an Individual
No, sir, not at all, not at all. I was acting like someone conducting a legal transaction, but in circumstances that raised questions.
Not at all.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Mr. Mulroney, I neglected to ask something. During Mr. Thibault's questioning you were quoting from certain documents. I would ask if the committee could have a copy of the document you were reading from, if you could please provide that.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
In addition, you had also indicated you had an agreement with your law firm that you would be doing this other work, some internationally. Was this legal work, Mr. Mulroney?
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
It was business.
Did you file income tax returns in any other jurisdiction than Canada?
10:20 a.m.
P.C., As an Individual
Than Canada? Probably in the United States, if I had, under our tax agreements.... Probably in the United States, if I was receiving revenue from my activities in the United States at that time, which I believe I was, so they would have been in keeping with our mutual tax treaties.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Finally, you also referred to the safety deposit box in your home where you put the cash, but you also referred to the record or the ledger you were keeping. You had your expenses and then you paid yourself.
10:20 a.m.
P.C., As an Individual
No, I do not, sir. That was 15 years ago. Ever since the matter was resolved with the tax department, I disposed of those documents.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Could you at this time or later provide us with a general summary of the disposition of the $75,000, please?
10:20 a.m.
P.C., As an Individual
Yes, I'd be happy to, sir. I'd be happy to record the various trips on those four or five important occasions, plus the full report I gave to Mr. Schreiber in the presence of someone else in New York, explaining fully what had taken place.