Evidence of meeting #24 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Marc Kielburger  Founder, WE Charity
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Miriam Burke
Craig Kielburger  Founder, WE Charity

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON

The rest of my time I cede to Mr. Dong.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

Mr. Dong.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON

Thank you, Chair.

I'll make a quick comment. Witness in your opening statement you criticized the government members for hiding behind a children's charity. If you check the blues—and I'm a permanent member of this committee—during numerous debates I pointed out the fact that it's unfortunate that many kids would lose the opportunity to participate in a summer internship or a volunteer long-term program, and the negative impact this whole politically motivated back and forth has had on the entire charitable industry. I welcome you to check the blues.

As you can see today, Mr. Poilievre and especially the Conservative members are having a tough time believing all the information is there. They seem to be conducting a fishing expedition and they want to continue.

Having said that, I respect all members' privilege to ask questions, especially for the opposition—

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

I recognize a point of order.

Mr. Carrie.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON

Mr. Dong was saying there's some type of fishing expedition. I think that even the Kielburgers would agree that their corporate structure is very confusing.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

Mr. Carrie, is this a point of order or a point of debate?

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON

It's not a fishing expedition.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

That's not a point of order. Thank you, Mr. Carrie.

Mr. Dong.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON

Although I disagree with them, and I disagree with their motive, too, I do respect and I would defend their right as parliamentarians and their privilege and also their responsibility to make sure the government is accountable.

With that, I have nothing else to ask. I just want to put that on the record. Thank you.

5:40 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

Mr. Chair, can we respond to that quickly?

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

Mr. Kielburger.

5:40 p.m.

Founder, WE Charity

Marc Kielburger

Thank you.

Sir, we appreciate the fact that you're defending members of Parliament. We respect the fact that you, as members of Parliament, have a very important role to play. We're asking, as well, that people also defend the kids in the process.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

Colleagues, we have now reached the end of our rounds of questions. I know there have been a number of discussions during this hearing with regard to the production of documents. I'm certain your counsel has been taking note of those things that have been requested. I'm certain that will be supplemented by the clarification that will be provided to committee members over the next number of hours as we go through all the things that were not only requested but that you have suggested you would be happy to provide for us. We'll look forward to that correspondence. We'll ensure that happens.

Mr. Dong, I see you're raising your hand.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON

Yes, I listened to Mr. Poilievre mention that he's going to move a motion. I take it as a threat to our witnesses. I want to be clear. Are we considering that motion? Are we not considering that motion, or was that not a formal motion? I didn't see any motion. I didn't see a notice of motion. I don't know any details.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

We'll turn to Mr. Poilievre. If he does have a motion, obviously he did—

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON

I'm not inviting him to move a motion, Chair. I'm saying I want you to clarify. I want to make sure there is no unanimous consent given to what Mr. Poilievre was saying. If there's no motion on the floor, I'm happy with that. To be clear, I'm not inviting him to make a motion. I'm asking for clarification from the chair.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

I believe there was a suggestion that a motion might have been brought forward. There is no motion being debated at this point. You could probably work with Mr. Poilievre to draft that motion, and we could probably undertake to vote on that, if that's what you'd like, but obviously—

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON

The motion I want to put forward is the adjournment of today's meeting.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

Not seeing any additional members—

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

Go ahead.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

I understood there was one more round of questioning that had not been completed.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

The members who remained on that round indicated that they were done.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Mr. Carrie and I split the last round and we were going to split the.... Basically, we took our two rounds and split them each in half, so we had one more to split. That was my understanding of the....