Information & Ethics Committee on April 24th, 2018

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Are you willing to go to the United Kingdom to testify?

Do they need to take legal action to get you to testify?

[Jeff Silvester]

No. We've already provided information to them. The U.K. parliamentary committee has invited us, and we'll follow up with them, to talk to them.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

My colleague, Mr. Angus has pointed out time and time again where everybody else is wrong and AIQ is right. Mr. Silvester and Mr. Massingham, you've told us how everybody has it incorrect. Now, here, in real time, you've told us point-blank that you received two letters and that you answered them, and we are told by their information commissioner that you refused to answer them, to the point that they're looking to take legal action against you.

Explain this to me. Who's not right, her or you?

[Jeff Silvester]

I don't think the two pieces of information are opposed. If she's not happy with the answers we've provided, then I'm hoping she'll reach out to us.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

She does not say that. I'll read it again.

AIQ refused to answer her specific questions.

She doesn't say she's not happy; she said you refused. You said you answered them.

Who's not correct here? Who's not telling us the truth?

Keep in mind, as Mr. Angus just pointed out, everybody else has not been telling the truth, as you refuted.... In this case here, is she not telling us the truth?

[Jeff Silvester]

I can speak only for what we've done. She sent us the letter on May 17, and we responded. She sent us a letter again on January 30, and we responded.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Nothing here seems out of order to you? Everything you've done is correct?

[Jeff Silvester]

No, I've said not everything we've done is correct.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Everything you've told us is correct.

[Jeff Silvester]

Everything I've told you is true.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

You have purposely misled us, Mr. Silvester.

[Jeff Silvester]

No.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

You have just purposely misled us to the point that someone would contact us during your questioning and say you refused. You did not say you refused. She says you refused.

[Jeff Silvester]

We answered the questions as well as we could and that's all we can do. Each time we've responded—

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Let's put a copy of this information that you said, back. A copy of—

[Jeff Silvester]

You mean the letters that we provided?

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Both letters, yes.

[Jeff Silvester]

It's part of an active investigation. I don't know if I can use that or not.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

What part will you not provide us? Why not?

[Jeff Silvester]

We'll have to check with the information commissioner's office.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

What information commissioner's office?

[Jeff Silvester]

The U.K. Information Commissioner's office.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

The U.K. Information Commissioner's office. You need to check with her whether you can provide us the information that you didn't give her?

[Jeff Silvester]

It's part of their—

We've answered the questions. If they have more questions, we'll happily answer them.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

I have one other quick question. You said Vote Leave paid BeLeave's invoice. Is that correct? You just said that.