Evidence of meeting #26 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 know.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC

I have a point of order.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

We are recognizing a point of order.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC

Rick Theis is not a member of cabinet.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

I don't think that's a point of order.

Mr. Angus, we'll return to you.

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

I was asking about the director of cabinet affairs, who was given a document in which the Prime Minister's wife and mother were being used as the sales pitch. Didn't he say that if this is going to go to cabinet, it is inappropriate?

Mr. Rodriguez, you've read the Conflict of Interest Act,. It puts the Prime Minister in a very clear apparent conflict in subsection 5, subsection 6, subsection 7 and subsection 8.

Mr. Theis's job is to protect the Prime Minister from getting into trouble. Did he say to Craig or Marc, “Do not use the Prime Minister's family as a selling deal when we're talking about a deal between $500 million and $900 million”? Did that happen in the conversation?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Well, Mr. Theis was not aware of the connections, or whatever you want to call it, between WE and the family—

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

That the mother—

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

—and again—

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

But they're listed as “celebrity ambassadors”. That means they work for the organization—and he wasn't aware?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Can I answer?

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Yes, for sure. Go ahead.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Thank you, Charlie.

In that conversation—and I did speak about this with Mr. Theis, because it was very important for me to be able to communicate to you what had been discussed—again, there was nothing of that sort, and there was no discussion about money or—

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Okay.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

—whatever, and as you know, it was—

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Okay. I'm just wondering, because his job is to protect the Prime Minister, so I would have thought that he would have answered that.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

As you know, the—

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

My time is running out. Can I ask you one more question?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Please do.

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

You're not really here for the Canada summer service grant, because you weren't there, but you are the director of the House, so when is Bill C-11 coming? I know it's going to upend all our work. Are you bringing it in a day or two days? If your Liberal colleagues are going to filibuster, I'm trying to fit my calendar in and see how long I have to listen to them before we get to the legislation. Could you tell us when we're going to get Bill C-11?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Thank you. That's a very good question. Normally I get that from your House leader, which I appreciate very much.

We did call it on Friday, and I hope we're going to be able to call it back again soon.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

Thank you, Mr. Angus.

We're going to turn to Mr. Poilievre now for five minutes.

Go ahead, Mr. Poilievre.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Mr. Rodriguez, you said that Mr. Theis did not know about the Prime Minister's family relationship with WE. Did he get this document from the Kielburger brothers in May, yes or no?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

I don't know.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Well, you talked to him. You're here to testify on his behalf, so tell us yes or no, please.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

I am saying I don't know, Mr. Poilievre.