Evidence of meeting #10 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mulroney.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:15 p.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Okay. Do you have expense sheets showing: I flew to Russia to see Mr. Yeltsin; I flew to France to see Mr. Mitterrand; I apportioned $1,000 for that flight, for this flight; I had these meals in these hotels, in these restaurants—or whatever. Do you have those kinds of bills?
12:15 p.m.
P.C., As an Individual
I had all of them until such time as I resolved the matter and assumed, for my burden, all of the expenses and paid tax on it.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Mulroney, I am going to ask you a series of questions, and you may answer after that.
Then, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Dhaliwal will continue.
Mr. Mulroney, you said you made no presentation to Maxime Bernier on the wireless spectrum issue. While he was the industry minister, did you ever have a private or public meeting, dinner, or lunch with him in Montreal or any other city? Have you ever met with him at all? If so, how many times, in which city? Have you ever placed a telephone call to him, or has he called you? On any of these occasions, did you discuss the wireless spectrum issue?
Have you ever discussed, on any occasion, the wireless spectrum issue with Minister Maxime Bernier?
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Mr. Mulroney, I have already ruled on this matter. Please answer the question.
12:15 p.m.
P.C., As an Individual
I'm sorry; I thought this would be overruled, because it has nothing to do with our mandate.
I'm sorry, sir. Could you please repeat it?
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
You said you made no presentation to Maxime Bernier on the wireless spectrum issue while he was industry minister. Have you ever had a private or public meeting, dinner, or lunch with him in Montreal or any other city? Have you ever met with him at all? If so, how many times, in which city?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Chairman, on a point of order, I'd like to challenge your ruling on this. I understand you ruled the first time that it's an issue of credibility, as pointed out by Mr. Murphy, but he's continuing on an issue of cross-examination. I challenge your ruling that he can continue in this line of questioning, which goes far beyond the mandate of this committee.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
That's not debatable. We'll have to put the question on it.
Do the members understand the challenge of the chair's ruling on the admissibility of this line of questioning? I previously ruled and continue to uphold that ruling, for the reasons given.
Mr. Hiebert.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
May I know which members are signed in at the present time?
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
The clerk will confirm, but a recorded vote will be fine.
Mr. Mulroney, unfortunately this is not debatable. The decision of the chair is being challenged on this matter.
Would the clerk please call the vote by a roll call?
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
He challenged the chair's decision. The question is: shall the decision of the chairman be sustained? Do you support the chair, yes or no?
12:15 p.m.
Bloc
12:15 p.m.
P.C., As an Individual
Mr. Chairman, would you hear me for five seconds, please?
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
12:15 p.m.
P.C., As an Individual
Just for five seconds? I think it's highly relevant.
I had a communication from your committee that said we are invited here to answer questions concerning matters relating to the Airbus settlement.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Mr. Mulroney, order, please.
I'm sorry, sir; this is not debatable. It is an important question. My decision has been challenged. I'm asking whether the committee is agreeing with the chair, and I'd ask for a roll call vote, please.
(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 6; nays 5)
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
The question has been put. Should we put the question again, or do you understand the question, Mr. Mulroney? Put it again?
Mr. Rodriguez, would you please repeat the question for Mr. Mulroney?
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Absolutely, with pleasure. I think that in all fairness, it is normal to repeat the questions. Once again, I will ask them one after the other.
Mr. Mulroney, you said you made no presentation to Maxime Bernier on the wireless spectrum issue. While he was industry minister, did you ever had a private or public meeting, dinner, or lunch with him, in Montreal or in any other city? Have you ever met with him at all? If so, how many times and in which city? Have you ever placed a telephone call to him, or has he called you? Did you discuss on any of these occasions the wireless spectrum issue?
Did you ever discuss, on any occasion, the wireless spectrum issue with Minister Maxime Bernier?
12:20 p.m.
P.C., As an Individual
Mr. Maxime Bernier's father, Mr. Gilles Bernier, was a member of my caucus for nine years. I'm very close to the family and have been—they're an outstanding family in Quebec—and when Maxime Bernier was elected, he of course communicated with me for some advice and counsel and I tried to help him along.
In particular, when he was moved to Foreign Affairs, we had a discussion, we had dinner—I don't think there was a lunch, I think we had dinner—in Montreal for a discussion of foreign policy issues and some larger perspective of the dealings with the Canada-U.S. relationship, new trading initiatives that the—
