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.
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Absolutely not.
As you know very well, and you know it well, Mr. Sorbara, we've had many discussions on finance files. It's the public servants who do that. It's their job, and they do it very well. They're professional, and they did that.
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
In this case, who was responsible for negotiating the contribution agreement?
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
During our lengthy questioning with the Kielburgers—I think they have come to two committees, for approximately seven hours, and probably even more than that if I have forgotten a day or two—Marc Kielburger made a statement. I'm going to read verbatim what he stated:
The agreement technically began on May 5. We were working in advance with ESDC, putting in resources to help develop the program. The turnaround time was so tight and we were, of course, so passionate about helping young people at this time, that we got to work right away with the full risk and understanding that if this agreement did not go forward, we would be at the financial risk of doing so. We accepted that risk because we really wanted to help.
Minister, is that comment from Mr. Kielburger your understanding of how the process was undertaken with regard to ESDC in its negotiations and vice versa, in WE's negotiations with ESDC?
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Excellent.
My understanding is that Mr. Theis had one 25-minute call with the Kielburgers. In that call he listened. I have met Mr. Theis two or three times. He's a very affable individual, very personable and very nice. He follows up very quickly with all stakeholders, including me. He is someone who will respond when he needs to respond and when it's appropriate to do so.
My understanding is that this was the only interaction that Mr. Theis had with the Kielburgers. There were follow-up emails from the Kielburgers that Mr. Theis did not answer. Is that correct?
March 29th, 2021 / 3:25 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Yes, it is correct, based on my conversation and all the information that was provided to me. There was only one 25-minute phone call. Again, it was mostly general conversation, and Mr. Theis directed them to the diversity and inclusion department.
3:25 p.m.
Liberal
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Exactly. My understanding is that 5,000 pages of documents were disclosed to the finance committee and the members on that committee during that time—and I was one of them—and then on to the ethics committee. There were 5,000 documents. Mr. Theis had that one 25-minute conversation with WE and then directed them to a minister's office for that program.
That is correct?
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Maybe one day. At this current time, he is not a minister; he's an individual who works in the Prime Minister's Office for the Prime Minister.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
On that note, the principle is extremely important. One of the reasons to protect our staffers....
If I may, I'm going to quote someone here, who said:
Ministers' staff who have appeared before committees have been denied the accompanying support of their ministers. They have been denied the opportunity to get basic treatment of due process. They have been stripped of the ancient tradition that guarantees ministers are responsible for the function of their ministries and their departments.
I'm quoting Mr. Poilievre directly here.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Absolutely. We know Mr. Poilievre is quite the eloquent speaker in the House of Commons and on committees, and those were his words just a few years ago.
I want to ask a question about Mr. Theis and his social relationship. In my time that I have been blessed to walk on this earth, I did not know about the WE Charity. I didn't know about them until last summer. I did not know who Marc and Craig Kielburger are or were. I still don't really know them. I have no social relationship with them, nor any ties. I have never been to a WE event and have never been invited. I was just not there, and frankly, it doesn't cause me to lose any sleep at night.
Does Mr. Theis have any social relationship with either of the Kielburgers?
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
No. He never had a meeting with them, not dinner, lunch, drinks, whatever. I did ask all those questions.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Mr. Rodriguez, have you ever had dinner with the Kielburgers? I know I certainly have not.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
No. Actually, to be honest, the first time I heard the name “WE”, I thought it was oui in French. I was wrong.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
On that front, just to respond, I do want to put on the record that when I first heard about this WE Charity, I had to ask local principals and teachers what this organization was, in fact, and receive the pertinent feedback for me to make decisions on what I thought about this charity or did not think about this charity, or what I thought or did not think about this organization.
3:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Thank you, Mr. Sorbara. Your time is up.
I'm not sure if that was a question, but if you want to answer that question, Mr. Rodriguez, you may, if in fact you felt there was a question there.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
No. I just thank Mr. Sorbara for his work.
Thank you very much.
3:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Very good.
We're going to turn to Monsieur Fortin for two and a half minutes.