Information & Ethics Committee on Aug. 11th, 2020

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

That's fine. Thank you.

Was there anyone in the PMO or the finance minister's office aware that you were having this phone call?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Not that I'm aware of, but I can check into that information and share it with the committee.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Did you take any notes?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Madam Chair, from that phone call, it was in regard to the unsolicited social entrepreneurship program, so I received—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

No, that wasn't my question. Did you take notes, yes or no?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

I was provided a briefing note, which has been shared.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Okay. Did you take notes on your phone call, yes or no, for the fourth time?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Everything I received was in line with what was on—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

No, did you take notes with your own hand? That was the question. It's a simple question, yes or no?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

The only note I would have taken would have been to ask the team to follow up with colleagues' offices and officials in regard to the proposal.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

But that's strange, because a moment ago you said that by the time you did this phone call or finished it, you were not interested in that proposal. Now you were following.... It must have been a different proposal that you were following up on.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Madam Chair, the member can choose to put words in my mouth. It would not be his first time.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

They're your words.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

It is a repetitive behaviour—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Let's not get distracted.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

I will say that it's something that I was not considering, but it's important for the team and also for officials to be aware of it and to make sure they look into it and consider its merits.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Okay. All right, so you decided you weren't going to pursue that proposal, yet you wrote notes to your staff and officials to follow up on that proposal. Okay. It's very clear.

We're going to move on to another question now.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Madam Chair, I think I should proceed.

Madam Chair—

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Madam Chair, she should have the opportunity to respond.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

No, I'm asking my question. I didn't ask a question yet. She's had plenty of chances to respond, and I'm glad.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

You've put words in my mouth—very classy.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

On the next issue here, were you aware that the Prime Minister withdrew your proposal from the cabinet meeting on May 8, yes or no?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

The Prime Minister testified and shared that information.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

The WE organization had already begun implementing the Canada student service grant on May 5, three days earlier. Did you instruct anybody to immediately call WE and say, “Stop. The Prime Minister has pushed back. This program is not approved by cabinet; therefore, WE has to put its actions on hold,” yes or no?

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Madam Chair, as the Prime Minister stated, this was about due diligence from officials, so I would like the deputy to have a minute to answer.