Information & Ethics Committee on May 10th, 2012

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You are no longer a minister and you are here to answer my questions. Whether he was a friend or not, you were attending a partisan meeting. A month later, you became the chairman of the Old Port of Montréal Corporation. Did you talk about appointments with Léo Housakos at that meeting?

[Gerry Weiner]

No.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Before you answer, I want to remind Mr. Coderre about the topic that the committee is studying.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

With all due respect, Mr. Chair, when the topic of the study is expenses, we must also consider the person who approves those expenses. If that person is the chairman, we want to know how he was appointed because perhaps there is something behind that as well.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

I hope that you will be coming to those questions. I will let you reply, Mr. Weiner.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[Gerry Weiner]

Mr. Chair, my memory of the event that the honourable member is talking about is not at all clear. It was a dinner in a restaurant in Laval. I really do not remember whether the senator was there. It was in honour of Mr. Evereklian, who has been a friend for a number of years. There were members of various communities, but I do not recall those who were there.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Housakos was one of the organizers of the event, but you do not remember that. Okay.

Did you speak to Mr. Housakos after you were appointed chairman of the Old Port of Montréal Corporation? Have you met him since?

[Gerry Weiner]

I do not recall. I meet a lot of people. I do not remember meeting him subsequently. If you want to know whether I have met him in the last three years, the answer is yes. I have seen him from time to time, like a lot of other people.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Did you meet with Dimitri Soudas before your appointment?

[Gerry Weiner]

Never, Mr. Chair.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

So it was Mr. Housakos who helped you. Since then, have you, in your capacity as chairman of the Old Port of Montréal Corporation, met with the Minister of Public Works and Government Services?

[Gerry Weiner]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Have you met with people from the Prime Minister's Office?

[Gerry Weiner]

Umm…

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

That sounds like a yes.

[Gerry Weiner]

No.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You have not met with anyone from the Prime Minister's Office?

[Gerry Weiner]

Since when?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Since your appointment. That is what I want to know.

[Gerry Weiner]

I have…No.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

That seems hard for you to say.

[Gerry Weiner]

No, it is not hard, but I had visits from some people. I will say no.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

My impression is that Ms. Benoit is the victim of a smear campaign, because, despite what Mr. Del Mastro says, you said very clearly that, if you had been in Bernard Roy's place, you would have approved Ms. Benoit's requests as well. You feel that Ms. Benoit is an outstanding person who does her job well. You are completely satisfied with her leadership and her management style. Is that correct?

[Gerry Weiner]

It is.