Evidence of meeting #125 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was anderson.
A recording is available from Parliament.
As an Individual
I think I'm here today simply because of a civil litigation suit, which is happening in the province of Alberta, with a customer we had relations with. It has been a legal dispute since 2022, and it's been before the courts with legal counsel, and they have shared their side of the story with a news reporter at Global.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Okay, but the questions you've been asked so far have been more about your relationship with Mr. Boissonnault than about the ongoing litigation. Is it that relationship that you see as the problem, or is it the ongoing litigation?
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
You mentioned that the reason you're here today is the litigation that has been going on since 2022 with a California company. However, the questions you've been asked so far have more to do with your relationship with Mr. Boissonnault.
So are we here because of litigation or because of some other reason?
As an Individual
I apologize, Mr. Chair, and thank you for the question.
I believe we're here simply because of a business relationship I had with Mr. Boissonnault from 2020 until 2021. The federal filing showed that he was removed from the organization. However, the legal counsel in Alberta didn't remove him from the provincial registries. I believe we're here simply because certain members of the committee believe that he was involved with Global Health Imports when he has had no operational role and no communication with regard to the company since that time.
Bloc
As an Individual
Again, I'm not a politician. However, I would answer yes. In my opinion, this has been—
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Anderson.
Ms. Poon, what is your relationship with Minister Boissonnault?
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Thank you for giving a brief answer.
I'm going to ask you more or less the same questions I asked Mr. Anderson.
The Ethics Commissioner chose to look at the facts and didn't find any evidence that would allow him to launch an investigation. What do you think of his decision?
As an Individual
I read in the media reports that the Ethics Commissioner reviewed his business activities and expressed no concern with his compliance with the act and will not pursue the matter any further.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Okay.
I'm going to ask you this question that I also asked Mr. Anderson a few minutes ago: If the Ethics Commissioner didn't find any basis for an investigation, why are you here today?
As an Individual
I'm here as a private citizen and I'm happy to answer questions and to assist the committee. Again, I take my obligations very seriously. The minister also takes his obligations very seriously. I have been very careful to meet all of my compliance obligations.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Do you think your presence here has anything to do with the political side of things?
As an Individual
I'm a private citizen. Again, I take my compliance obligations seriously, and the minister did as well. In terms of the involvement, I confirm that he and I followed the rules and we worked hard—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Thank you, Monsieur Villemure.
Mr. Green, you have six minutes. Go ahead.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Thank you very much.
Mr. Anderson, my questions are for you this round. I'm going to put them in a rather rapid-fire way. I may interject to take back the time. I'm not trying to be rude, but I would respect...if you just cut your answers short and allow me to ask the next question.
Take me back to the plane ride. You're on a plane with the minister—or a person who used to be an MP. You sit down, you get chatting, and then from that conversation you develop a multi-million dollar company.
NDP
As an Individual
It was 2019. Private citizen Boissonnault was flying back from Bolivia, I believe. He was down for an election. There was an election and he was part of a coalition. I was flying back to Edmonton. I was in the import-and-export business for wholesale sports. I owned an import-and-export sporting goods equipment retail. COVID-19 was just starting out. I had an import-and-export licence, and we were talking about the needs that parts of the world were facing and that there was a potential that this virus could come to Canada. That was the initial—
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I respect that, and I understand that you had some involvement with hockey sales and hockey equipment as well—some things, some matters that had been resolved between you and an organization.
With Mr. Boissonnault, though, you had the experience in import-export and he had past experience in government. Together you saw this opportunity, seized upon it and formed a partnership. Is that correct?