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.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
My question is with respect to those other companies. First of all, is the Conservative Party of Canada the only political party that you assist?
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
That's correct. And none of the other companies we're involved with had any dealings whatsoever in the 2006 federal election that I'm aware of.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Okay. At any time, did any of the other companies assist the Conservative Party of Canada?
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Do you have any knowledge as to whether or not any of the other companies or you yourself assisted any of the other political parties—the Liberal Party, the Bloc Québécois, or the New Democratic Party?
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
I certainly didn't. I have no knowledge that any did, nor do I believe that any did, but I can't say that with 100% certainty. They operate relatively independently.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
It's a very competitive marketplace. In the overall marketplace there are probably 20 fairly large competitors providing this service.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
My question therefore is whether or not the other competitors...whether you have knowledge directly, indirectly, or otherwise, of whether or not any of the other political parties are involved in a similar process as far as financing advertising goes.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Do you have any knowledge as to the process of payment used by the other parties?
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Has this practice, which is under investigation by this committee and in the courts, been going on for some time?
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I mean the practice of a national party providing funding to local riding associations, and the moneys from the local riding associations going back to the national party, or to pay for advertising.
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
We don't have any knowledge of the transactions that occur between—
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I understand you don't have direct knowledge, but do you have any indirect knowledge?
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Do you know which of your competitors assist the other political parties?
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
I believe the NDP's agency was in Vancouver and is still there. I apologize, I don't know the name.
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
The other members can probably tell you that. We're not sure.