Evidence of meeting #48 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 campaign.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
That, of course, is where the rubber hits the road. Parties are allowed to move money around, but they're not allowed to move expenses from the national campaign to the local campaign.
You're not allowed to submit that $40,000 as an expense unless you actually spent it on signs or leaflets or something in your local campaign.
As an Individual
Might I inject here “or an agent of ours”. The relationship between us and the headquarters was such that they were an agent for the EDA. When we entered into this arrangement, there was an implied contract that they would look after the advertising and we would pay for it.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Was that advertising specific to your riding? Do you remember seeing the ads that said “Brought to you by Steve Halicki”?
As an Individual
You know, we were so poor we couldn't even have a television in our riding office.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I'm kind of surprised to hear a Conservative candidate saying that their best idea for fundraising was to bilk the taxpayer.
As an Individual
No, no. Let's be clear about this, Pat. Please, please, Mr. Martin.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Well, you went to the taxpayer to get a $30,000 rebate on money you never spent.
As an Individual
Mr. Martin, the 60% subsidy...it's called a subsidy, it's not called a bilk.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
No, it's a rebate. The subsidy is $1.75 per vote that your party—
As an Individual
That's right, and the reason for that is to help defray election expenses.
As an Individual
You have to remember and keep in mind that local riding associations had been freeloading on the advertising that had been paid for by the national headquarters, right? How do you explain that one? Under good accounting principles, you match revenue and expenses. We were freeloading. Now we had an opportunity to help out the headquarters here in which, after we examined the proposition, we agreed to participate. By the way, we had no idea that any other riding associations were also part of the same transaction.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
If it is a local campaign expense and you purchased advertising for your local campaign, which is what you're arguing, how do you explain the difference in market value or commercial value of that advertising, when York South—Weston was charged $39,999, whereas right next door or virtually right next door in Parkdale—High Park it's $9,999? You border that riding. You're allowed to submit legitimate local campaign expenses at fair market commercial value. How do you say that this advertising was worth $40,000 in your riding and $9,000 in another riding?
As an Individual
Let me simply draw on this morning's testimony, when three good reasons were given. Mr. Lemieux brought these up. Shall I go through what those three good reasons were?
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
That's your answer. Your answer is fair enough.
Did anybody from the party consult you on your appearance before this committee?
As an Individual
I was never approached by anybody in the Conservative Party about—
As an Individual
I sent a courtesy e-mail to Gary Goodyear, my member of Parliament, letting him know that I would be appearing.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Did he give you any advice or consultation about what questions you might be asked, or what the Conservative Party's views and opinion may be?
NDP