Evidence of meeting #17 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 money.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:40 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes, Mr. Dhaliwal. I heard a great deal about it from a Conservative Party fundraiser in Nova Scotia.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Did it have a direct association with the PC Canada Fund or with former Prime Minister Mulroney?
3:40 p.m.
As an Individual
No. My understanding of that account is that it had nothing to do with the PC Canada Fund. It was a personal account for Mr. Mulroney.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
In your book Blue Trust, which you mentioned, you write about the late Mr. Verchere, former Prime Minister Mulroney's tax lawyer, who tragically committed suicide. Mr. Verchere did legal work for the Swiss Bank Corporation, the same bank where Mr. Schreiber and Mr. Moores had subaccounts, and he sat on its board of directors, as well.
In this book, Blue Trust, you suggest that Mr. Verchere, Bernard Roy, David Angus, and Fred Doucet were all very aware of the cash top-ups to former Prime Minister Mulroney's salary. Is that still your understanding?
3:40 p.m.
As an Individual
I would say yes, with a reservation. I haven't looked at that information in Blue Trust. I would really have to verify that by looking to confirm what you're saying, because I don't think I totally understand what you're asking me.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
You said that suggested that.
I'm going to move to the next question.
Do you know if Mr. Verchere ever advised Mr. Schreiber on setting up any of his Swiss accounts?
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
The next question I'm going to ask is whether you know if Mr. Verchere ever advised Frank Moores on setting up the Swiss accounts.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Verchere was the director for the Swiss bank. The account set up by former Prime Minister Mulroney ended up at the same bank where Mr. Schreiber and Mr. Moores had those transfers. Do you think they were associated with one other?
3:45 p.m.
As an Individual
You're correct that Mr. Verchere was on the board of the Swiss Bank Corporation. And you are correct in saying that he was Mr. Mulroney's tax lawyer and that he handled his blind trust. Mr. Verchere's own banking and the money he dealt with was usually done in Geneva at Pictet or Darier Hench, two other banks.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Do you know if the Swiss Bank Corporation ever approached GCI, Frank Moores, or Fred Doucet to make representations about possible business interests in Canada?
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Did Mr. Verchere ever approach GCI, Frank Moores, or Fred Doucet to make representations about possible business interests in Canada?
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Thank you.
In the years since Blue Trust came out, have you come across any other information? You said you haven't, but I am focusing on information relating to Mr. Verchere that would concern this committee's mandate.
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Thank you for accepting our invitation, Ms. Cameron.
In the introduction to your book, The Last Amigo, you say that the central question is where the money went.
Where did the money go?
You say that's the central question, referring to secret commissions from Airbus. We know that $10 million went to Europeans and that the other $10 million apparently came from Canadian politicians. Did you answer that question? Do you know where the money went?
3:45 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes, Madame Lavallée, I know where a lot of the money went. I don't want to be cute about this, but it is in this book. I've tracked the money. I think it was a bit more than $10 million on each side. But it was the entire sum of money for those payments, those secret commissions, up to the time that Harvey Cashore and I had the information. It would have ended around.... You know, I'd have to look up the date.
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Your book isn't easy to find in the bookstores. For those people listening to us, could you say here where the money went? Which Canadian politicians received money? How much? And why?
3:45 p.m.
As an Individual
It is a complicated money trail—there's no question about it. It would probably take the rest of this meeting to explain it. There were no sitting politicians that I know of. Mr. Moores had been a politician and he would say he was paid for his work. Fred Doucet received quite a lot of money, but after he left Mr. Mulroney's employment in the Prime Minister's Office he was working for a lobbying company.
The money was divided between Europeans and Canadians. The Canadians who received it were Gerry Doucet, Fred Doucet, Gary Ouellet, and Frank Moores. If memory serves, a few other people also received it. Part of the money—as I think Mr. Pelossi may have told you this morning—went to those people.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Based on your research, did Brian Mulroney receive money directly or indirectly?
