Evidence of meeting #16 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Order.
Gentlemen, for no other reason than that we have translators, and they can't do their job when you both speak at the same time, please respect the—
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
John Baird Conservative Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
Well, now that there's a pause, I'll answer.
I'm here representing the Prime Minister. I've said that four times now, and you continue to suggest that I'm here representing Mr. Soudas. That is not the fact.
Our government accepts ministerial responsibility. We accept ministerial accountability. The days when you could call in 25-year-old young people before this committee and beat up staff who can't defend themselves are over, Mr. Easter.
We accept ministerial responsibility. I'm a minister. I'm accountable. If you have any questions about the matter that's before the committee, I'm here and prepared to respond.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Okay, Mr. Chair.
In the orders of the day, from the Office of the Prime Minister, Dimitri Soudas, director of communications, was invited here for a specific reason. He's no 25-year-old. He represents the Prime Minister's Office on TV every day. He's more of a spokesman than our ministers of the crown. We see more of the PMO through Dimitri Soudas than we do of ministers that have ministerial responsibility in this government.
If he can be the spokesman, don't try to say he's a 25-year-old being intimidated by this committee. I do know that he intimidates cabinet ministers, but he is certainly not a 25-year-old who any member of this committee could be intimidated by. And you're--
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
--affronting parliamentary democracy by your appearance here today--
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
--when the committee has invited Dimitri Soudas. Do you understand?
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Order.
Mr. Minister, order.
Just a moment, please.
We had an agreement that we weren't going to raise our voices here, Minister.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
John Baird Conservative Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
Apparently Mr. Easter wasn't invited to that agreement.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
You have to behave yourself.
All the members have to behave themselves.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
We have a very serious issue before us, and another one has fallen on our table by virtue of the government's announcement this morning.
This committee wants to do its job, wants to do its work, and we want to move forward.
Discussing the announcement of the government today and all the reasons why is not before this committee right now. I don't want to go there. If people persist in going back to matters that are not before us right now—
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
John Baird Conservative Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
That was the nature of the question Mr. Easter asked me, sir.
