Evidence of meeting #47 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 conservative.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

David Marler  As an Individual
Geoffrey Webber  As an Individual
Douglas Lowry  As an Individual

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC

Mr. Marler, are you the current candidate in Brome—Missisquoi for the Conservative Party of Canada?

2:40 p.m.

As an Individual

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC

Why?

2:40 p.m.

As an Individual

David Marler

Because the party told me it did not want me.

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC

Thank you very much, Mr. Marler.

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Thank you kindly.

Madam Lavallée, s'il vous plaît.

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

Thank you. I will pick up where you left off.

Why did the Conservative Party tell you that it did not want you to be a candidate in the next election?

2:40 p.m.

As an Individual

David Marler

The party did not give me a reason. The president of the local association told me that the party did not want me.

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

What do you think the reason was?

2:40 p.m.

As an Individual

David Marler

I would rather not speculate on that.

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

Do you think the reason might have been the fact that the last time...?

2:40 p.m.

As an Individual

David Marler

I'm afraid I can't hear the questions.

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Order, please.

Mr. Marler has indicated that he can't hear because there are a lot of conversations going on over here. Everything was going fine with Mr. Proulx, but when the Conservatives started to discuss who was going to be the first to ask questions and had little discussions, all of that was taking place within earshot of Mr. Marler.

I'll ask all honourable colleagues to please guard themselves against having loud conversations while there is questioning going on, so that everyone can hear, especially the witnesses and the questioners.

Madame, you've used about half a minute of your time. Please proceed.

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

Thank you very much.

I had got to the fact that you did not want to speculate about why the Conservative Party did not want you. Do you nevertheless think it might be possible that the reason could have been because you did not want to take part in his in-and-out scheme? Could that have been the reason?

2:40 p.m.

As an Individual

David Marler

I do not know the reason. Mr. White told me that the party did not want me. There was no previous discussion. I am speaking of the last conversation. At that time, we were at the nominations stage. If I were to continue with the nomination process, the party was going to reject me either before or after the nominations were closed. It was very clear that he did not want me. As for why, he did not tell me and I do not know.

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

You did not ask?

2:40 p.m.

As an Individual

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

I looked at your financial return to the Chief Electoral Officer. You said that you did not accept money from the Conservative Fund. However, your return shows that transfers totalling $42,933 were made by the Conservative Party between January 4, 2006 and February 27, 2006. Can you explain these amounts or ask your official agent to do so?

2:40 p.m.

As an Individual

David Marler

Are you saying that there was a transfer from the Conservative Party in my account?

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

Yes. In the financial return from you to Elections Canada, there are transfers from the Conservative Fund, Conservative Fund Canada.

2:45 p.m.

As an Individual

David Marler

On what date?

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

On January 4, 2006, there was $1,000.

2:45 p.m.

As an Individual

David Marler

How much?

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

One thousand dollars. On January 18, 2006, there was $3,975.

2:45 p.m.

As an Individual

David Marler

I thought you said $42,000.