Evidence of meeting #26 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was know.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Now, you had the cell number of the Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Christian Paradis. Is that correct?
9:40 a.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
I did. At one point, it was sent to me by his assistant.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
And you phoned Mr. Paradis on his personal cell number. Is that right?
9:40 a.m.
NDP
9:40 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Did I ask you if you were caucus chair before your defeat, sir? I asked you if that was special access--
9:40 a.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
All of the information that is privy to you when you are caucus chair is summarized for you by the House of Commons. When you're defeated as an MP, you're given all those records and all that information. It's not left behind; it's given to you.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Sir, you're dissembling. I'm asking you a specific question. Do you regard having the personal cell number of a minister of the crown as being the same access that every Canadian has? Yes or no?
9:40 a.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
Well, he's a friend as well. Why wouldn't I have his cellphone? But I made sure, as I've said, to separate business and personal meetings.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Okay. Well, let's talk business. I have an e-mail exchange from August 26, 2009, where you e-mailed Brian Jean. You said you weren't lobbying, but your e-mail says:
Have you had a chance to look at the proposal for our solar project and power systems. Our preference is for the solar if there needs to be a choice between the two. I would love to talk to you about it if you have some time. Thanks, Rahim.
Now, if that's not lobbying, why would you indicate a preference you had for one of the two proposals put before the minister?
9:45 a.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
As I said in my opening remarks, the bulk of all my business activity was done on my personal account, a Rogers account--
9:45 a.m.
NDP
9:45 a.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
--and also from my business account.
There is the odd e-mail that would have been inadvertent, because I think there's only one or two out there that have that “Assistant 2”.... I do take responsibility. I should have been more careful. I either had been e-mailed directly from their staff or the minister or the MP directly to that particular account. Many of them knew I had access to the account. I had e-mails from the Prime Minister's office and other people's offices who contacted me at that particular e-mail because they knew it was an accessible e-mail from--
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
I want to ask you about the BlackBerry. You said you had access to your wife's BlackBerry out of her four allotted MP.... Is that true?
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Now, I know that on the MP's BlackBerry, none of the other BlackBerrys have access to the MP's schedule.
9:45 a.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
If the assistant updates the schedule and sends you an invitation, it's updated.
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
The non-MP BlackBerrys do not have access to the MP's calendar on the other BlackBerrys. Were you aware of that, sir?
9:45 a.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
All I know is what I can tell you. I don't know anything else that you're referring to. All I know is that when an assistant in Helena's office would make a change to her schedule and send the invite to me, it was updated automatically if I accepted it.
9:45 a.m.
NDP
