Evidence of meeting #18 for Declaration of Emergency in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was list.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
I'll ask it another way.
We asked earlier about the notes in terms of how you came to the conclusion and how you came to the inevitable decision that the terms of service had been broken. Somebody asked if you had taken some notes. As general counsel, you suggested that no, maybe there hadn't been notes around that.
When that decision was made, was there a legal briefing or opinion provided by you to GoFundMe that would have ultimately resulted in the termination of the campaign?
General Counsel, GoFundMe
There are no written notes. We were meeting as a team on a fairly regular basis, multiple times a day.
NDP
General Counsel, GoFundMe
I don't have any specific notes about January 6 either.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Thank you.
Now that we've concluded that round, I'll put it to the will of the committee to determine how we want to proceed into the next round.
Would you prefer to continue with the five-minute rounds, given that we don't have GiveSendGo here, or would you prefer to go to the four minutes and three minutes?
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
I'm checking with the Senate to see where they are in the vote cycle.
It might be best for five minutes each, depending on where they are.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Does that work?
Let's continue on with the five-minute rounds. That gives everybody a bit more runway.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I'd like to ask a question, Mr. Chair.
Is it the will of the committee and the chair to give back to the senators the time they have lost as a result of their absence because of voting?
I'd like to know that sooner than later so that I can gauge where I am in my questioning.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Yes, that was my intention.
When the senators return, the floor will then revert to them. I'm the last on the list, so it's likely going to be me and Mr. Fortin who get bumped. Certainly, when they come back they will reclaim their time with the witness.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
No, we would put them into a round.
Does that make sense with everybody? Is everybody okay with that?
I appreciate it.
We will now turn to Mr. Brock.
Mr. Brock, the floor is yours for five minutes, sir.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Wilford, I left off in my first round of questioning dispelling and highlighting the disinformation and misinformation being spread by the Liberal government, the Prime Minister, the ministers associated in higher positions involving this convoy as well as our state-sponsored CBC.
Before I move on, I also want to highlight a comment our Prime Minister made to our House of Commons on February 9 that protest funds were linked to crime, that “we are working very hard with partners at different levels of government to make sure that the flow of funds through criminal activities is [intercepted]”.
You would agree with me, ma'am, that, by my review of all the evidence you have given so far by way of the finance committee as well as the interview with the Public Order Emergency Commission, there is no evidence that any of the funds originating to your platform were proceeds of crime.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I understand that your crowdfunding platform is the largest in the world. Is that correct?
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
By its very nature—I've done a little bit of research—you'd agree with me that you are not politically aligned with any particular government in the world or ideology. Is that correct?
General Counsel, GoFundMe
Yes. That is correct. We are an open, non-partisan platform.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
As well, you are not aligned with any particular religious cause. Is that correct?
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
How will you respond, then, to the suggestion of bias? I appreciate that Mr. Benitez is not here to defend himself, but when both you and he attended the finance committee, you had an opportunity, much like you did today, to provide an opening statement.
On behalf of Mr. Benitez, who was then the president of your company, he opened up with this particular line: “On behalf of everyone at GoFundMe, we want to acknowledge the impact of the so-called freedom convoy on the citizens of Canada, in particular the residents of Ottawa....”
Do you agree with me that this is a form of bias?
General Counsel, GoFundMe
That was the name of this campaign, and I believe that's all he was trying to convey.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Well, perhaps we'll agree to disagree. He could easily have said the impact of the “freedom convoy”, because that's exactly what it was called. The information that Tamara Lich initially presented to you was not labelled the “so-called freedom convoy”. That is an opinion from the president of GoFundMe, which is supposed to be neutral and not aligned with any political ideology.
That's what he said at committee. Do you disagree with me that this is a form of bias?