Information & Ethics Committee on Aug. 14th, 2008

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

So it was before Monday of this week?

[Chantal Proulx]

It was.

[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?

[Chantal Proulx]

I'm not sure I understand the question. Are you asking me if the chair contacted me?

[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.

[Chantal Proulx]

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.

[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?

[Chantal Proulx]

I can't comment on that.

[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.

[Chantal Proulx]

I can advise the committee that I did contact the chair. Whatever conclusion the committee draws from that is up to the committee.

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Excuse me, I think there have been some allegations made to the chair.

[An hon. member]

All kinds of allegations.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Mr. Goodyear, I would like to--

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

What else haven't you told us, Mr. Chair? What else are you lying about?

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Sir, did you say what else am I lying about?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

What else have you misled the committee about?

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Did you say I was lying, sir?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Would you like to review the notes, Mr. Chair?

Off the record. I withdraw.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Off the record you want to withdraw? That's good.

[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?

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

You're asking me the question?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Okay, I'm going to answer it.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Wonderful.