Evidence of meeting #44 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was believe.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:05 a.m.
As an Individual
I'm sorry, I don't know the e-mail you're referring to.
Is it in the package that was provided or...?
I can say unequivocally that there was absolutely no intent to mislead the committee. If that is indeed in the e-mail, it was not premeditated for me to send it. When I did send it, it was a moment of absolute critical lapse of my judgment. It was not prompted by anybody and it was a sincere error on my part.
11:05 a.m.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
But you did tell us that it was spontaneous, and you just said in your opening remarks that in fact you got the report the morning of the 18th, the same time the members of the finance committee got it. So you knew the report was coming out. Clearly you had knowledge of that. You told someone that you would send them the report. Doesn't that somehow indicate it being premeditated in that you were going to make the report available to them?
11:05 a.m.
As an Individual
I realize how it could be construed, and to the best of my recollection, as I still don't even have a copy of the e-mail to jog my memory, it was never my intent to (a) mislead the committee or (b) treat the document with the lack of respect that I did.
11:05 a.m.
Conservative
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Sure. Share it with him.
Does that jog your memory at all?
11:10 a.m.
As an Individual
I'm sorry, no. It was three months ago, and I realize that.... I didn't have access to this e-mail the last time I was at the committee because I did not have access to my parliamentary e-mail account. And whilst I agree with you that it would seem like there was some type of premeditation, there was not any intent to treat the document with that lack of respect.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
You got the report on the 18th. Yet on the 17th you had already said to someone, I will send you a copy of the report. It's a confidential report, and you knew on the 17th that it was a confidential report when you said this to Clarke Cross.
11:10 a.m.
As an Individual
I can't speak to whether I knew the report was confidential on the 17th. I don't remember. I honestly do not remember, Ms. Foote. I'm sorry.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Okay. During his testimony, Mr. Cross said that upon receiving the report he was surprised. Yet you gave him advance notice on the 17th that you would in fact be sending the report. Do you have an explanation as to why Mr. Cross would also lie to this committee?
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
So we have both you and Mr. Cross now, both of you, suggesting that this was not intentional, and Mr. Cross saying he was surprised. You had given him prior notice.
Who else did you give advance notice to that you would be sending them this confidential report?
11:10 a.m.
As an Individual
As I said, you have access to e-mails that I don't. I don't remember even sending this e-mail, let alone any others. I do not believe I sent any other e-mails advising that I would be committing such a gross miscarriage of confidentiality.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
I want to go to your resumé. It says that R.U. Thinking Strategic Consulting provides regular strategic advice to a diverse range of clients on issues ranging from international affairs and trade issues.....
Who do you provide these services to?
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
So you've never provided those services, even though on your resumé it says that that's in fact what R.U. Thinking Strategic Consulting does?
11:10 a.m.
As an Individual
I have provided them in the past; however, I currently do not.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Who did you provide them to? Who were your clients?
11:10 a.m.
As an Individual
The company has been in operation for a while. I don't have a list of people who I've done work with here. I didn't come prepared to answer questions in regard to that today. I'm sorry. I can undertake to provide a list of clients to the committee after my appearance today.
