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.
2:50 p.m.
NDP
2:50 p.m.
As an Individual
I asked for $50,000 and I got $50,000. I ended up spending $21,000 and was still under cap.
2:50 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
In fact, you said you had approximately $50,000 room, so they sent you a cheque for $49,998—
2:50 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
It was transferred by wire to Mr. Goldstein's campaign account.
Did you have direction and control over that money?
2:50 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I see. So you didn't spend that money as a local campaign expense?
2:50 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
It was used to purchase advertising from Retail Media. Did you ever have any contact with Retail Media?
2:50 p.m.
NDP
2:50 p.m.
As an Individual
No, I heard it on the radio, on Q107. Obviously my riding association was never going to advertise on Q107, which is one of the local radio stations. Some of the people in the campaign office were listening to it.
I'm actually not one of the listeners, but that's the reason I heard it. I would have put it on CHFI, but that's me. The campaign is not about me.
2:50 p.m.
NDP
2:50 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Do you believe, then, and is it your understanding that the national campaign transferred some of their advertising expenses to your local campaign by this practice?
2:50 p.m.
As an Individual
My understanding is that it probably would have been minus the national campaign.
2:50 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Do you think it was morally and ethically right for the party to launder their money through that campaign?
2:50 p.m.
As an Individual
First of all, I don't call it laundering. I think it's disgusting to call it laundering.
2:50 p.m.
NDP
2:50 p.m.
As an Individual
It is not to circumvent. If you take a look at the Elections Act, and I encourage you to read the act, you'll notice that the Liberal Party under Prime Minister Chrétien changed the rules. They put a greater emphasis on government rebate and individual contributions.
2:50 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Sir, you can move money to a campaign as long as you spend it on that campaign. Did you spend that $49,000 on your campaign, or did you kick it back to the party? Did you file for a rebate on it?