Government Operations Committee on April 28th, 2010

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

This sounds like a business plan worthy of Goldman Sachs. If you ask these people to buy in at $10 a share, knowing full well you intend to short it and get it down to a buck a share so Rahim can sell out here and buy back in there, that sounds like stock manipulation and it's a scam--

[Nazim Gillani]

And you get that from this contract that you're looking at?

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

I'm sorry?

[Nazim Gillani]

And you get that from this contract that you're looking at?

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

No. I'm asking you if that's the way you operate--

[Nazim Gillani]

Yes, but you're talking about--

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Did you ever discuss that proposal with Rahim?

[Nazim Gillani]

No, not at all.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Mr. Martin, your time has expired.

Just a short answer, if you have one.

[Nazim Gillani]

Not at all.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Ed knows this stuff.

Is that true, Ed? Is that how they do business in the real world?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

We're going to move over to Mr. Brown for five minutes.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Warkentin.

I think it's clear from the timeline that was presented--when we talk about August 20 to the present time--but what I'm interested in is going a little bit further back from that. I think it's apparent that during the timeline you described, there was no success; there was no successful lobbying. The Prime Minister's door was clearly shut.

But I think the reason there's a real concern around the notion of lobbying is because of what we heard during the sponsorship inquiry. During the Gomery inquiry, it came out from Benoît Corbeil and others that there was a system for corruption. It was set up by the previous Liberal government. Money was given to party friends and then funnelled back to the Liberal Party.

I guess what I'm curious about is if you have had any dealings with the previous government. I think it's clear that during the last four years there has been no successful lobbying, but prior to that, did you have any exchanges with the previous government where that was common practice?

[Nazim Gillani]

No.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

Okay.

On that note, we know that the Liberals gave out sponsorship cash to their friends in various ridings across the country. Did any of your businesses receive sponsorship cash from the previous Liberal government?

[Nazim Gillani]

No.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

Okay.

Well, it's important to clarify this, and it's an interesting contrast, understanding we're in an era where lobbying doesn't work if you're trying to lobby against the notions of the Lobbying Act, but previously it was much different. Maybe any attempts to lobby the government would have been much, much more successful than the three attempts shot down under this. It's an interesting contrast, but I know my colleague Ed Holder has a quick question as well.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

If I may, Chair, I have two fast questions.

First of all, I was thinking about the comment you made about Mr. Jaffer passing out his business cards, and he didn't have his current one, so he took out his old card that he had--and I suppose that can happen--and he crossed out information.

I was imagining that if I took out my member of Parliament card, took off “House of Commons”--that doesn't apply--and “London West”--that doesn't apply--and my justice building address, and my residence address, so I'm kind of stuck with my name, what's the purpose of the business card?

[Nazim Gillani]

I don't know what to say to you. I just saw him do this, and he wrote down another number, and I walked out. That was one person. There were other people at that table, so I don't know whether other people got the card or not. At the close of the meeting, I saw him do that with one person. I got up to go out and have a cigarette.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

My final question, if I can, Chair, is the following.

You indicated in testimony that you were looking to take legal action against the partners in the company based on the actions that have happened. Do you intend to do that with The Toronto Star and the reporter?

[Nazim Gillani]

Absolutely.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Thank you, Mr. Holder.

We have just one short question from the Liberals.

Ms. Coady.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Thank you very much.

I have to make it very quick.

I'm just noticing on your timelines here: “October 12...executive summary for RLP Energy Inc.” Then it goes to “RLP NDA” again, and then it talks about “RLP NDA” again. That's during a very short period of time, from October 12 to November 3.

Can I ask a couple of questions?

[Nazim Gillani]

Sure.