Information & Ethics Committee on March 29th, 2021

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

He got the document. It showed the family members in it. The Kielburger brothers sent him this document, and he apparently did not know, even though it was right in this document.

Next point—

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

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

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

My understanding of conduct in a committee is that it is the same as in the House, so no props can be used during the committee. Is that true?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

No.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Absolutely not.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

That is not true. I've seen props being used many times, including documents.

We'll turn back to Mr. Poilievre.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

A moment ago you were asked clearly if the Canada student service grant was retroactive to May 5. You answered, “no”.

I have here the contribution agreement. This is the date on which it was signed: June 23. It says here, “Effective date and duration: This Agreement shall come into effect on May 5th, 2020”.

Were you simply ignorant of the facts or were you deliberately misleading the committee when you said that it wasn't made retroactive?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I never mislead committees, Mr. Poilievre. Those are—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Why did you state a falsehood?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Those are things that are negotiated by public servants. I'm not aware—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

It says right here.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Well, then, that's what it is. Those are things that are negotiated—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

You said it wasn't retroactive. Are you now saying it was retroactive? Let's be clear.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I don't know.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

You don't know.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

You have—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

You don't seem to know very much about this, yet you're the minister responsible.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Well, I do. Ask questions on what you called the meeting for, and—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

You're the minister responsible. You don't know, so let's get on to the next point.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Poilievre, just a second—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

You said you don't know. That's your response.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

We have a point of order.

I did make it very clear that I did want the witness to have the opportunity to answer and to use the same length of time that the question took, but I do recognize the point of order.

Go ahead, Ms. Shanahan.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Well, it's on that point exactly, that the member should please allow the witness to respond to the question.