Evidence of meeting #51 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 conservative.
A recording is available from Parliament.
As an Individual
This is a bit embarrassing for me because I called one the “main” one and the other the “Hill” one. One of them was called Alexis and the other one was called...I'm not trying to be unhelpful. I promise the members that if I have them both—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Mr. Nejatian, we will ask you to get the information and perhaps within 48 hours provide it to the clerk of the committee. That will be fine.
As an Individual
I have them both as Facebook friends. I'm happy to provide them to you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
That concludes your time, Madame Freeman.
We're going to move now to Mr. Poilievre.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
You have been now active in the political process for many years, given your early start, Mr. Nejatian. What advice would you give to a young person thinking about getting involved in their teenage years in the political process?
As an Individual
I think I would give them a couple of different pieces of advice. One is to look at the top of every letter they send out.
The second is that despite this deeply embarrassing incident, I am defined in some part by activism in political causes. It has been a great experience for me. I believe I have taken out more in life experiences than I have given back. I've made some great friends from all parties, frankly, whom I keep in touch with to this day.
If I may, I should point out that the first person to write to me after this incident was a member of the NDP, who's a dear friend of mine from law school.
I couldn't imagine getting to do what I've done without being politically active.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Speaking about the circumstances surrounding the events that brought us here today, obviously one of the contributing factors was the temporary absence of the minister, given the fact that he was travelling to attend a funeral, and as a result was unable to communicate for that period of time.
Can you talk a little bit about the funeral that Minister Kenney was attending during the time these events were unfolding?
As an Individual
Shahbaz Bhatti was the Minister for Minority Affairs in the Government of Pakistan. On the morning of March 2 his car was riddled with bullets. He was assassinated for what seems to be his advocacy that Sharia edicts regarding blasphemy be taken out of the law of the land. He was the second person in a month to be assassinated for offending Sharia law.
As a Muslim I found it difficult, and frankly, he was a brave man doing something in a very difficult place. I believe it was a difficult process for everyone in our office, and the minister felt that the Government of Canada ought to be represented at the funeral. It wasn't my experience to have to deal with such matters, but the minister thought it was important. He had a friendship with Mr. Bhatti and he wished to be in Pakistan.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
We're now going to go to Mr. Siksay for a final question.
Mr. Siksay, you have five minutes.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Thank you, Chair.
Mr. Nejatian, Conservatives have raised the matter of the apparently erroneous CBC report. Have you filed a complaint with the CBC about that report?
As an Individual
I have no intention of filing a complaint with the CBC. I find the state broadcaster to be generally fantastic in the public work they do. If they get things wrong, I'm frustrated by them sometimes, but I think the media has been very fair to me.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Okay.
Mr. Nejatian, was it wrong for a party fundraising appeal to have gone out from a minister's office? I know you say it was wrong to have used the wrong stationery, but was it wrong for this appeal to have originated in the minister's office?
As an Individual
Mr. Chair, I think this is the sort of thing that happens in every office and has for some time. I--
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
So you think it's appropriate that ministers, members of Parliament, do fundraising out of their parliamentary or ministerial offices?
As an Individual
Well, in the United States there are clear rules against this type of thing. I suppose it is open to members of Parliament to change the rules as they exist in Canada.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Did you do other fundraising in the minister's office when you were there? You said this was the only time you had written a letter while you were in the minister's office, but did you do phone calls or e-mails to fundraise on behalf of the Conservative Party?
As an Individual
I didn't make any phone calls to raise money for the Conservative Party of Canada.
As an Individual
I sent one e-mail, from a personal account, to suggest organization of a fundraiser, and helped do it, but I think....
I have to admit that I don't remember where I was physically when I sent the e-mail.
I'm not trying to be unhelpful.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
No problem.
Does the MRO staff, the regional staff, have any role in fundraising? Would they have sent out fundraising letters as part of their job, or would the minister have asked them to do that in their regions?
As an Individual
Certainly not as part of their job; I think the MRO staff, some of whom are Conservative candidates now and are, I believe, on leave, I believe do fundraising on a volunteer basis.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
But you don't know what their job description is, or never saw--
As an Individual
I certainly know what they do for a department. I'm not saying they don't do political things as volunteers. They from time to time do political things as volunteers. I don't think they do that as part of their job description.