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.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Well, if you'd read even the publicly available correspondence, you would know that he did receive the package.

In that package there is this promotional document with pictures of Sophie Grégoire and Margaret Trudeau. They are the spouse and mother of Justin Trudeau, so did Mr. Theis know that his boss's wife and mother were in a working relationship with the WE Charity, yes or no?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

From what I understand, no.

March 29th, 2021 / 3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

He didn't read the package they sent him?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

I didn't ask him if he read the package, Mr. Poilievre, so if I didn't know he had the package, I didn't know if he had read it or not.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Well, you're here to answer on his behalf, so you're the person the government says has the answers, so answer.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

I did ask if he had knowledge of WE, had met with WE—

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Right. That wasn't my question.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

—had dinner with WE, or whatever, and he didn't.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

As my next question, Mr. Chair, did he know that the Prime Minister's family had been paid by the WE organization?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

From what I know, no.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

He did not know?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

From my understanding, no.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

He was under the false assumption that the Prime Minister's mother and wife were doing their celebrity ambassadorial work for free?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Well, Mr. Chair—

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Yes or no?

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

—this is the type of attack we want to avoid for our staffers—

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Yes or no?

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

He is implying stuff that is not real and he is—

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON

I have a point of order.

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

Go ahead on a point of order, Mr. Sorbara.

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON

The minister is here to speak about Rick Theis. The honourable member for Carleton is repeatedly bringing up the Prime Minister's mother and the Prime Minister's family, and you all know that my view on that from prior meetings is that is inappropriate in regard to what we are debating today.

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON

That's not a point—

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

As I have made clear, we are studying the lobbying with regard to pandemic spending. I do believe that it's within the order of the study.

Mr. Poilievre, we'll turn back to you.

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Yes or no? Did Mr. Theis know that his boss's mother and wife were paid by the WE Charity, yes or no?

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Based on what I know, no. I have already answered your question, Mr. Poilievre.