Information & Ethics Committee on June 12th, 2018

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

You were working for SCL Elections. You were hiring for them. You're listed as their head. Christopher Wylie says you were set up for this purpose. You could do side projects. That's okay, because it seems that a lot of loosey-goosey stuff was done under SCL's world operations, but he says that you have misrepresented your role with SCL to our committee.

To me, this is a very important thing, because we have to make a report to the House about the evidence we've heard. I'm giving you an opportunity: why would Christopher Wylie lie to our committee if this is not true?

[Jeff Silvester]

I don't know why Mr. Wylie would continue to state what he's saying. He ought to have been fully aware of what our relationship was early on. He in fact, when he had his own company, pitched to us to work with him.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Well, he says he brought you in—

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith]

Unfortunately, Mr. Angus, we are almost at five minutes, so we're going to have to get back to you for the next seven-minute round.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith]

With that, as we pick up the next seven-minute round, we have Mr. Baylis for seven minutes.

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

Thank you, Chair.

Mr. Silvester, you started your testimony by saying, “We've been entirely co-operative with this committee.”

[Jeff Silvester]

Yes.

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

You said it. What do you mean by “co-operative?” What does that mean to you?

[Jeff Silvester]

We've come, answered all your questions, and answered further questions when you asked us to provide additional information. I've provided a ton of information. I think that's what co-operating is: answering all your questions as best as we can and contributing—

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

Answering them as best as you can...?

[Jeff Silvester]

Pardon me?

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

Answering them as best as you can...?

[Jeff Silvester]

Well, that's all I can do.

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

Yes.

[Jeff Silvester]

Sometimes I won't have all the information, just like I mentioned earlier, and then I will go back and try to find that information for you.

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

If you're co-operating, you're going to try to answer all the questions.

[Jeff Silvester]

Correct.

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

If you're entirely co-operating—because you said you were “entirely” co-operating—how is that even more so? What would you do more?

[Jeff Silvester]

Than just co-operating...?

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

Yes. I'm using your words: “We've been entirely co-operative.”

[Jeff Silvester]

I just simply mean that we have co-operated as best as we can and tried to answer your questions as best as we can. We've come twice now and, like I said, answered all your questions and provided a ton of information.

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

For example, you also said in your opening statement you were co-operative with the people in the United Kingdom, their Information Commissioner, and their committee as well.

[Jeff Silvester]

Correct.

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

The last time you were here, I had a hard time understanding something, because I kept asking you a question about the Information Commissioner, and you were not co-operating, and you kept telling me.... You had a very perplexed look on your face and said that you'd answered their questions. You got one letter; you answered it. You got a second letter; you answered it.