Evidence of meeting #57 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 businesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
I think, as I said here earlier.... Actually, I didn't say it, but it is the public office holder who holds the accountability. That is ministerial accountability—
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
It's a very specific question that I'm asking you to answer for the benefit of this committee. Did anybody in your office flag this as being a problem, yes or no? It's simple.
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Your chief of staff, who's been with you for five years in a high political position, who signed off on a contract and who sent an email to procurement that said to get on this ASAP, did not recognize that awarding a sole-source procurement contract to your best friend was a conflict of interest? Is that your testimony here today?
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
No. What I said earlier, and I will repeat, was that we believed we were in compliance because we met the Treasury Board rules—
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Minister Ng, did your chief of staff...?
You weren't in compliance. You breached it because of the conflict of interest. Did your chief of staff—
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Minister, I'm going to let Mr. Green ask the question, please. Then you can respond.
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
That's not my question. Your refusal to answer this question is only going to result in more questions. I just need you to answer it.
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Somebody's been on the Hill for five years in a senior political position. Is it your testimony that they didn't understand that awarding a contract to your best friend was a problem, yes or no?
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
I said here that the recusal was something I should have done, but we believed we were in compliance because we met the Treasury Board guidelines.
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Mr. Green, I'm sorry. That's all the time you have.
Mr. Barrett, you have five minutes.
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Thank you.
Minister, on what dates did the training sessions occur?
While you look for the dates, I'll ask you my next question. At those sessions, were there training materials provided? Was there a slide show presentation? Were there any handouts? Were there any laminates displayed on an overhead projector? Was there anything like that?
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
Let me answer your first question. There was a virtual meeting session on April 10 and a second one on May 3.
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Were they both in 2020, ma'am?
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
They were in 2020, yes.
What we reviewed, to my recollection, was preparation for a video. It was a video that would help me communicate the range of supports our government was providing to Canadians. There were a series of mock questions that would simulate questions that the media would ask.
Some of the things I covered in the video training are actually in the document that we shared with you. It would include things like, “What is the Canada emergency wage subsidy? How do I apply?”
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Thank you. We received those, but was there a slide deck or a digital presentation of any type?
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
How long were each of the sessions in duration?
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON
I don't recall specifically, but they would typically be approximately a few hours.
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Were they maybe four hours between the two?