Evidence of meeting #49 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 elections.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
11:45 a.m.
Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
It was.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
So you had a conversation with Mr. Szabo, the chair of the committee, before Monday.
I'm just going to read to you unedited copy from Monday, August 11, 2008, of this committee where it reads:
Colleagues, as you know, the committee submitted a list of 79 witnesses. And I want to first report to the committee that the clerk's office did an excellent job to make all attempts to contact these proposed witnesses. The chair had no direct contact with any witness at any time, other than Mr. Mayrand, who you know I spoke to in our last meeting...
Is that true? Can I give you this just so you can read it and just confirm that the chair did in fact make contact with a witness at some time?
11:45 a.m.
Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
I'm not sure I understand the question. Are you asking me if the chair contacted me?
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
The question is that the chair indicated to this committee that he had no contact with any witness at any time other than Mr. Mayrand, and we've been indicating that there have been special deals, that the committee has been a farce, that the chair is acting in a partisan fashion, that he's misled the media with respect to summons; and we have another incident where the chair has specifically misled the committee.
I'm just asking you if you were in contact with Mr. Szabo. You've indicated that you were and that it was before Monday.
August 14th, 2008 / 11:45 a.m.
Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
In answer to your question, I can advise the committee that I contacted Mr. Szabo when I learned that our office had been contacted to inquire whether we would appear. I contacted the chair because I wanted to better understand what was being sought of our department.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
So would it be fair to say that if he indicated he had no direct contact with any witness at any time that that wouldn't be accurate?
11:45 a.m.
Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
I can't comment on that.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
You can't comment on it. Can I give you this so you can read it and tell me if it's accurate? You've just indicated to me it's not accurate.
11:45 a.m.
Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
I can advise the committee that I did contact the chair. Whatever conclusion the committee draws from that is up to the committee.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
So once again we have an incident where the chair has specifically misled the committee. We've demonstrated where he's misled the media in scrums outside with respect to summons. Mr. Goodyear pointed out where he misled with respect to who had received summons.
Once again, I come back to the Mayrand accommodation that he's made, the special accommodation he made for one witness, the misrepresentation he's made with respect to the letter from Mr. Walsh, and I'm left with nothing but to point out exactly what we've been saying from day one about this committee, that it is a farce, it is a kangaroo court, and it's an illegitimate process.
And ultimately, Mr. Martin would like to speak about how people have shown contempt for this committee. Well, I would argue that this committee has shown contempt for the Conservative members of this panel. It is an absolute travesty that this has occurred and an absolute tyranny of the majority, and this is no credit to Parliament whatsoever.
I have nothing further.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
11:50 a.m.
An hon. member
All kinds of allegations.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
What else haven't you told us, Mr. Chair? What else are you lying about?
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Would you like to review the notes, Mr. Chair?
Off the record. I withdraw.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
No, I said it was off the record. I withdraw it, Mr. Chair. But here's the point. Did you mislead the committee? Read this. Did you mislead the committee?
