Evidence of meeting #14 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.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Yes, but I imagine you were interested in knowing what was said about you.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
That's precisely what I want to know.
It was said that, according to you, cash fell from the skies at 24 Sussex Drive, didn't it? You remember that, I'm sure.
February 7th, 2008 / 5:10 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes, it's true, it went quickly. I'm from a family of eight children, so there wasn't a lot of extravagance, never-ending expenses. I entered an environment where major expenditures were made, and things went very quickly. So I may have said that, of course.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
You were especially reported as saying that it was cash that flowed as though it were falling from the sky.
As an Individual
No, no. I spent a lot of money, I had open accounts across Ottawa for purchases, but I didn't see any money, physically, flowing at the residence.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
You obviously organized large receptions. So you needed a big budget to buy high-quality things.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
When you made those kinds of purchases, it was paid for by the Mulroneys, or by the government?
As an Individual
I have no idea. I submitted the invoices and the receipts from my petty cash, but as regards other places where I had open accounts, I signed, and the bill was sent—
Bloc
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
It was also reported that you said Mrs. Mulroney regularly asked you to transport thick envelopes containing cash from the prime minister's office. Is that true?