Evidence of meeting #47 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 conservative.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:40 p.m.
As an Individual
The Christmas holidays were on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I obviously went on holidays, took a day off, came back, looked at the bank account, and went, “Oh.”
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Therefore, I can understand that you had no control over that $50,000, how it was spent, how it was paid to anybody. You just sent it back to the party, right? You had no control over it.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Tell me, why do you think the party needed to send it to you and for you to send it back, if they were going to use it for national advertising?
You testified a little while ago that as far as you were concerned it was all an advertising priority; advertising was the big thing in the campaign. Why would the national party need to send it to you so that you could send it back to them, if they were going to use it nationally?
3:45 p.m.
As an Individual
Because advertising is part of what Elections Canada pays--of the 60%. If you take the variables and which ones pay 60%, advertising is the easiest one to use.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
In other words, you're telling me the fact that it transited within your account allowed the national party to claim back 60% from Elections Canada.
3:45 p.m.
As an Individual
If my riding association had been over 10% of the vote, then I would claim it; the cheque would go to me.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
You would have received the 60% of the $50,000, which was $30,000.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Yes, of course. But on that $50,000, you would have got $30,000 back--
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
--without touching it, except for returning it electronically, without using it in your publicity campaign, without doing whatever.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The witness very clearly said that the funding was used for advertising purchased in support of the Trinity—Spadina campaign. He did not say it was for national media, and Mr. Proulx well knows that. Mr. Proulx is attempting to put something into the official record that was not said.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Mr. Del Mastro, I'm going to remind you, sir, that when you call a point of order you are stopping cold the proceedings of this committee. You intended to do that so you could give your opinion in debate. It is not, as you know, sir--