Evidence of meeting #18 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 schreiber.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
So after Mr. Schreiber editorialized it and added to it, he did not pass it back to you for any confirmation of anything that he had written in it. Is that correct?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Do you have any evidence of when Mr. Schreiber sent that to Mr. Mulroney?
4 p.m.
As an Individual
Not really. I think it was some time...I don't know, a week, two weeks, three weeks after I sent him that draft memo. But I don't know that for sure. I suppose there would be a date on the letter.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Let's assume that letter was sent to Mr. Mulroney in July 2006. You said that you spoke to Mr. Mulroney on a regular basis on different issues, particularly dealing with Mr. Schreiber. Did Mr. Mulroney call you about that letter and ask you anything about it?
4 p.m.
As an Individual
I have so many calls from Mr. Mulroney and Mr. Schreiber--and I'm telling you this to the best of my recollection--my mind is bent. I don't remember specifically what was said in any conversation. My answer to you is, I do not recall.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Have you ever discussed this situation--anything to do with the letter or Mr. Schreiber--withPrime Minister Harper?
4 p.m.
As an Individual
The only time I had the pleasure of meeting the current Prime Minister was at a picnic a long time ago down in Nova Scotia. I have never had any discussions with him about anything substantive.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
You mentioned the New York meeting, when you met in the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Are you telling this committee that you had no knowledge that was going to happen in advance--that you, Mr. Doucet, Mr. Schreiber, and Mr. Mulroney would meet up at the hotel?
4 p.m.
As an Individual
That's exactly what I'm telling you. As my wife said at the time, I don't know who was more surprised: she and I, or Mr. Mulroney and Mr. Doucet. Now, maybe Mr. Schreiber set this up as a nice little surprise. I don't know. Maybe Mr. Doucet and Mr. Mulroney knew we were going to be there. But Sharon and I had no idea until they walked in.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
At that time, would you have known about the cash payments, the agreement, between Mr. Schreiber and Mr. Mulroney? Would you have been aware of that at that time?
4 p.m.
As an Individual
That was way back in 1994, I believe. If that's the case, no, I certainly had no idea.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
So when did you learn about the agreement between Mr. Mulroney and Mr. Schreiber?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
This is my final question for you, Mr. MacKay, and thank you for coming.
You were involved in business with Mr. Schreiber in the past, is that correct?
4 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes, that's correct. What I did--and I did it to help Mr. Schreiber--is I very tentatively approached a few businesspeople in Atlantic Canada, such as the late Harrison McCain, and said, “Mr. McCain, there's a food fair on in Octoberfest. If you have any people there, maybe you would like to have a look at this revolutionary new pasta cooker.”
I also had a quick meeting with another company. Then, of course, on a more substantive basis, I went over to Europe to see Mr. Schreiber on more than one occasion, and there was an executive there who had recently left Starbucks, a multinational company, who was very interested in doing for pasta what Howard Schwartz had done for coffee. So Mr. Schreiber and he made an agreement. The company was called Pallino. It's based in Seattle, Washington. I was persuaded--and I hold no ill will for anybody--to invest a couple of a hundred thousand dollars in this company. Mr. Schreiber did as well, as I recall, and he lost his money too.
I just mention this to show you that it was not a Mickey Mouse thing I was doing over in Europe. I went over to see Mr. Schreiber and he came back with me. I guess that was the foundation of the myth that I had somehow rescued him from the jaws of the Germany tax authorities.
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative David Tilson
Thank you, Mr. Wallace.
Mr. Dhaliwal.
Yes, on a point of order, Mr. Martin.
4 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
This is perhaps a point of clarification, but how much longer are we going to keep this witness? It was my understanding that we have two witnesses today, and that with the first witness we would do one complete round and then we would move on to the next witness.
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative David Tilson
I'm at the will of the committee. I understood from the clerk that we were going for one hour. If the committee wants to stop now--
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I would like to make a motion that we release this witness and move on and invite the next witness.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
February 25th, 2008 / 4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
I have a few brief questions for the witness, but they will probably not take as long as...
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Robert Thibault Liberal West Nova, NS
Could we give three minutes per party--three minutes to Mr. Dhaliwal and three minutes to Mr. Ménard?