Evidence of meeting #127 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 business.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
Not at all. That is simply false, Mr. Cooper.
As I indicated before, I have nothing to do with the Ghaoui Group. All of those deals with Mr. Anderson took place after I was an operational member of this company.
I did text Mr. Anderson. He responded to me by telephone. I indicated to him that this bill was there and he should take care of it, because I didn't want further text messages from Purolator.
September 19th, 2024 / 4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Minister Boissonnault, no one believes you. After you misled this committee by leaving out a material fact, you lost any benefit of the doubt.
You have yet to explain how there are nine text messages referencing “Randy” when the only Randy at GHI—ever—was you. You had a 50% interest. You have a text message placing you in Vancouver. You were in Vancouver. You've now admitted that on that very day, you spoke and texted with none other than Anderson, which you weren't forthcoming about until you had no choice, because you wanted to cover your butt.
Very simply, Minister Boissonnault, do you think Canadians are stupid? Everyone knows it's you. The Randy in the text messages and the Randy in the half-million-dollar shakedown is you. You, sir, lack the character and judgment to serve in cabinet. If you had any integrity, you would resign.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Thank you, Mr. Cooper.
Minister Boissonnault, I'm going to give you some time to respond quickly, if you don't mind.
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
Mr. Cooper, if the allegations you just threw at me were true, the Ethics Commissioner would have seen, in an exhaustive evaluation of all the text messages on all the telephones I have, across all platforms, that those text messages exist. They do not. I am not the Randy in question. The Ethics Commissioner has said so, and he considers the matter closed.
Conservative
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for joining us again.
Isn't this case closed?
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
Mr. Bains, that's certainly what the Ethics Commissioner thinks and has stated in his letter to me, as has been now reported in the media. This matter is closed because not once, not twice, but three times now, I have shared exhaustive information with the Ethics Commissioner and with this committee, indicating that I have followed the rules, starting back with my initial filings with the commissioner, proceeding then to when the story first broke on Global.
That is when I was asked to provide text information about September 8, which I did, again, across all platforms and on all devices that I have. Based on that, the commissioner said there was no need to have further examination of the matter.
Then, following summer testimony, we provided more text messages for the 6th and 7th of September to the commissioner, which the committee now has, and that is how the commissioner, for the third time, has indicated that I have no involvement in operating this company and that he considers the matter closed.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Despite that, we're still reviewing the matter, so how closed is it? Do we need to go back to the commissioner again and do it a fourth time?
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
I hope not. I'm always happy to participate with questions from the Ethics Commissioner, but I'm here today to clarify matters, to share the information that I have, and I hope that this allows the ethics committee to get on with its very important business. I know you have important studies that you want to undertake, and I'm here because I take seriously my oath as a minister and my responsibilities under the act.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Thank you for that.
Despite the matter being closed three times—and maybe we're anticipating a fourth time for the matter to be closed—I do have just a few questions here.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Have you ever spoken to or met with anyone from the Ghaoui Group?
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
No, I have not, and they acknowledge that themselves in media reports on the matter.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Were you involved in any way in a business deal between Ghaoui and GHI?
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
No. My time with GHI concluded prior to Mr. Anderson's business deal with the Ghaoui Group, and I have had no contact with the people in that group.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Did you send any of the messages shared between the Ghaoui Group that have been reported on by Global News?
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
I did not. I shared my text messages on all platforms and all devices with the Ethics Commissioner, and the Ethics Commissioner has indicated that I am not the person in question.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Have you had any role in the operations of GHI since you were elected in 2021?
