Evidence of meeting #8 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 money.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Thank you.
Did you alone have access to the Frankfurt account?
As an Individual
Yes. Now, hang on. I think my wife had the proxy.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
How much money was in the Frankfurt account originally?
As an Individual
I have no idea. Sir, to make it clear to you, this was just like a stop station. It comes from IAL, goes to Frankfurt, then Mr. Moores decides it goes to Mr. Moores' account, goes to Mr. Ouellet's account, or goes to trust companies or whatever.
Liberal
Liberal
As an Individual
Well, it could have been somebody else. If somebody else would have worked for the project, I would have taken it from there for the project.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
For what services was this money sitting there in the account?
As an Individual
The money was there because from the $4 million, which we received from Thyssen--the success fee for the agreement.... And now nothing happened, and the project was in the air. So I had to hope. If something came up, I would have needed some financing to go ahead, and this is what it was for.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
For what services? We talked about Mr. Mulroney. Was it for the past services or for present services or for future services?
As an Individual
Look, I told you already, the pasta business is pure nonsense.This didn't exist at the time.
Liberal
As an Individual
It was for the Bear Head project and nothing else.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Who would have the best records for this Frankfurt account? Would you be able to help the committee with those records?
As an Individual
I can try from the Swiss bank, because I don't have them. They may be on the Internet from The Fifth Estate. They have an enormous data bank. I am quite often surprised by how much they have and how organized they are.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
You said today that Thyssen knew that Mr. Brian Mulroney was working on the Bear Head. When exactly did they know?
As an Individual
We have to separate this.
Number one is that Mr. Mulroney supported the Bear Head project and this is what he told the executives from Thyssen when they visited Ottawa and met with Mr. Mulroney.
Number two, I told them that probably they'd have another chance after the election.
So these are the two.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
What exactly did Thyssen think he was doing for the Bear Head project?
Liberal
As an Individual
They would have expected Brian Mulroney was doing the same thing GCI had done before.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Okay.
I'm going to move on now to your letters, Mr. Schreiber, on the Bear Head project. In your letter dated May 22, 1992, you wrote:
Dear Prime Minister, As promised I write to keep you informed of recent events which have occurred as I proceed to realize our project by the method which I agreed with you during the last meeting.
Am I correct in my understanding that your meeting with Mr. Brian Mulroney that you referred to took place in early 1992? Is this the same meeting--May 1992?
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Who else was present there? There must have been staff, because it was the Prime Minister.