Evidence of meeting #12 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was charity.
A video is available from Parliament.
3:15 p.m.
Conservative
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?
3:15 p.m.
Liberal
Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON
Not that I'm aware of, but I can check into that information and share it with the committee.
3:15 p.m.
Liberal
Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON
Madam Chair, from that phone call, it was in regard to the unsolicited social entrepreneurship program, so I received—
3:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
No, that wasn't my question. Did you take notes, yes or no?
3:15 p.m.
Liberal
3:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Okay. Did you take notes on your phone call, yes or no, for the fourth time?
3:15 p.m.
Liberal
3:15 p.m.
Conservative
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?
3:15 p.m.
Liberal
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.
3:15 p.m.
Conservative
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.
3:15 p.m.
Liberal
Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON
Madam Chair, the member can choose to put words in my mouth. It would not be his first time.
3:15 p.m.
Liberal
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.
3:15 p.m.
Conservative
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.
3:20 p.m.
Liberal
3:20 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Madam Chair, she should have the opportunity to respond.
3:20 p.m.
Conservative
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.
3:20 p.m.
Conservative
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?
3:20 p.m.
Liberal
3:20 p.m.
Conservative
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?
3:20 p.m.
Liberal
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.