Evidence of meeting #34 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 sauvé.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Some opposition parties have wanted to put words in your mouth. Is there anything you want to clarify? Or is everything fine as it is?
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Some opposition parties have insinuated that you engaged in political interference. Is that true?
9:10 a.m.
As an Individual
No, I've never engaged in political interference with any party in power whatever.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I appreciate your testimony this morning and we appreciate getting to the bottom of many of the different allegations that are out there in the media and being brought forward by our opposition colleagues. Today it seems like we're on a fishing expedition. I usually don't mind fishing expeditions, except if nobody is catching any fish, and today that seems to be what is happening.
Mr. Varin, is the translation working for you?
I think we're still without translation for the witness, and my French isn't good, so I do apologize.
9:10 a.m.
A voice
C'est correct.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Très bien. We should thank the translators. Without them, we would be nowhere in this place. We do appreciate their work.
Mr. Varin, I wonder if you were aware of the Federal Accountability Act. When we were elected, our government was concerned, as most Canadians were, with the lack of accountability--at least perceived lack of accountability--in Ottawa. You, coming from Quebec, know the issues well. Obviously, the sponsorship scandal left a taint on this entire institution of Parliament.
So our government brought forward the Federal Accountability Act, an act that would ensure that people who were trying to buy influence on Parliament Hill would be identified and that there would be limits as to how they might be able to buy influence.
Are you aware of the Federal Accountability Act, Mr. Varin?
9:15 a.m.
As an Individual
I'm familiar with that act. The reason I'm not on the list of lobbyists is that that's not what I do. I've never intervened with the government on this matter. If I had had to intervene, I would have registered.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Well, we appreciate that because that's counter to what many of the media have reported. You have been reported and identified as a lobbyist and so that's an important correction.
Mr. Varin, you're also aware that it's a contravention of the Federal Accountability Act to give a donation with the expectation of receiving anything in return. Did you ever give a donation to any political party with the anticipation that you would get something in return?
9:15 a.m.
As an Individual
No, I made donations to the party on a voluntary basis. I very often attended cocktail parties. Those who were in a position to observe know that I have an extremely busy life with associations; I've chaired a lot of boards, I've done volunteer work all my life. When I worked for the party, it was volunteer work.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Varin, let me start just by clearing up the question by Mr. Regan of what you were convicted for in 1977. Our information is that you were convicted of five counts of fraud, corruption, and breach of trust. Would that be accurate, sir? You don't remember...?
9:15 a.m.
As an Individual
I don't exactly remember the charges that were laid. You say so; so you must have the file.
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Well, specifically, sir, when you were the chair of the apprenticeship division or whatever it was, you were shaking down a trading school for personal gain and therefore abusing your position of trust. That's what you were convicted for, in my understanding. Unless you have information to the contrary, that's what we understand.
That's not the point today, though. I'd like to know more about when you met Mr. Pichet and how long your relationship with Mr. Pichet goes back. Were you friends with Mr. Pichet when he was the executive assistant to Brian Mulroney?
9:15 a.m.
As an Individual
Yes, I was already a friend of Mr. Pichet's at the time. I had known him for some time before the 1984 election. That is why I said it was probably in 1980s.
I've known him for a very long time. Mr. Pichet has been a political organizer for a long time.
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
That circle of people would include, then, Fred Doucet, Frank Moores, Karlheinz Schreiber, etc. That would be the people in that group at that time. Would that be correct?
9:15 a.m.
As an Individual
I probably met Frank Moores once or twice at cocktail parties, but I didn't know him at all. I knew Fred Doucet by name, and I've previously said hello to him, but I don't know him beyond that.
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Did you have dealings with their consulting firm, GCI consultants?
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I see.
Can you remember the date that you met Mr. Pichet in the restaurant with Mr. Sauvé, where you introduced him and gave him the leaflet? Can you remember the date of that lunch meeting?
9:15 a.m.
As an Individual
Absolutely not, because, as you know, I had lunch with Mr. Sauvé on a number of occasions. I don't know the dates. I didn't keep an agenda concerning that. It often happened at the last minute. He called me and asked me if I was free for lunch. If I was free, it worked.
