Information & Ethics Committee on June 4th, 2024

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

As a person on this ethics committee and a proud New Democrat, I share that this is not the case, and I just say, Randy, that your testimony today has not helped you out.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Thank you, Mr. Green.

I am going to limit it to three-minute interventions at this point, and I apologize to the committee for that. We're going to Mr. Brock, followed by Mr. Housefather, and that will conclude the time we have. That will take us to 12:06, which is roughly the time...we started, not taking into account many of the interruptions we had.

Mr. Brock, I give you three minutes. Go ahead, sir.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

With respect, Minister, I share MP Green's latter comments that your testimony has not been helpful. In fact, not only are you disrespectful, you are exhibiting traits that, in my old career, I would classify as a lying witness. You've been evasive—

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

That's not appropriate, Mr. Chair.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Well, it is.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

That's not parliamentary language.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

I suggest, Mr. Brock, that you not use that language.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

You have the inability to tell the straight facts and to tell the straight goods, Minister. There lacks the ring of truth in what you have to say.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Go ahead on your point of order, Mr. McKinnon.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Brock's language is definitely unparliamentary. He needs to withdraw it, and he needs to apologize.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I'm not withdrawing, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

He used a different context. I'm going to allow him to do it and ask him to continue.

You have a couple of minutes, Mr. Brock. Go ahead.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I'm sorry, but on the same point of order—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Go ahead, Ms. Damoff, on the same point of order.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

—I've heard in the House, many times, the Speaker say that you can't say indirectly what you can't say directly, and that is exactly what Mr. Brock just did. We cannot call each other liars or...providing untruths to Parliament.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

I appreciate that. I think Mr. Brock understands your point of order.

I ask him to continue for the next couple of minutes.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Canadians are watching. They pay particular attention every time a minister appears at committee. What you've done, sir, is just displayed a complete lack of respect for policies and procedures at this committee, leaving aside the evasiveness of your responses and, clearly, the lack of ring of truth, as I've indicated.

On the issue of what was reported this morning on Global News, did you take it upon yourself to reach out to your former partner and ask for clarification as to who this other Randy was?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Brock, on that particular point, I have no operational role—

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Yes or no, sir, did you reach out?

I have three minutes.

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I have seconds to respond to your—

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Sir, I have three minutes—

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, I believe—

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Mr. Brock, just allow the minister to respond to the question. I know we're on short timelines here, but please allow Mr. Boissonnault to respond to that.

Go ahead.