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.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
You said earlier that it was in the long-term interest of the party. Are you aware that it was not legal to do so? Do you realize it now?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Oh, I apologize.
Before you start, Mr. Del Mastro, we have Mr. Goodyear on a point of order.
Conservative
Gary Goodyear Conservative Cambridge, ON
And it is a point that.... I respect the chair and the fact that you didn't recognize me during the questioning, but Mr. Chair, but I believe that Ms. Lavallée, quite probably unintentionally, was misleading the witness as to what Elections Canada's rules are, and I was concerned that through the translation Mr. Lowry may not have completely understood that in fact she was rambling off a couple of rules that are not in Elections Canada and was purposely misleading. But I doubt that....
That is over now; I'm good.
Thank you.
Liberal
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Okay, great. I wanted to follow up on something that came up earlier.
Mr. Lowry, the expenses for the regional media buy that you identified and submitted to Elections Canada, you declared these were expenses of the Trinity—Spadina EDA. Correct?
Conservative
As an Individual
No. As a matter of fact, it was audited. I have my audit letter, and it says it's fine.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Right. Obviously there was advertising money spent in support of the Trinity—Spadina EDA for the Conservative Party. Correct?
As an Individual
Or even if it was just about the Conservative Party. You could argue that even if it was just for the Conservative Party, it was a national ad, one of more ads on TV. You might say that by throwing these ads on TV, just like they do down in the States, they're much more effective. To get my candidate elected legally, that's what we're here for.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Right. I would say there is a distinction, so what we're talking about is that there were regional buys in Trinity—Spadina that supported the Trinity—Spadina campaign.
As an Individual
There are regional buys, there are national buys, there are local buys. There are all kinds of buys. There's all kinds of money spent on advertising during an election campaign.
Conservative
As an Individual
For the advertising business, but I'm in the banking business.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Very good.
I'll pass the rest of my time to Mr. Goodyear.
Conservative
Gary Goodyear Conservative Cambridge, ON
Thank you.
Again, Mr. Lowry, thank you very much for your testimony.
Would you agree that regardless of what the advertising buys are, and regardless of whether they're advertising the leader or whatever, it ultimately is the local candidate who benefits? Can the national party get a vote on election day?
As an Individual
In the last elections for the PC Party in Trinity—Spadina before it merged, I spent $5,000 on a campaign. The guy only got votes because there was a national campaign. Five thousand dollars just doesn't do it.
Conservative
Gary Goodyear Conservative Cambridge, ON
There you go. Thank you.
I need to ask you one other question, sir. You were summonsed to be here?
Conservative
Gary Goodyear Conservative Cambridge, ON
At any time, did the bailiff or anyone from the chair's office inform you of your rights under the law, that you have the right to have counsel present here today?