Information & Ethics Committee on Oct. 27th, 2025

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you.

You were mainly inspired by Mr. Duff Conacher.

Did you listen to the testimony of all the other witnesses we heard from, including the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, the Commissioner of Lobbying and professors and lawyers from various universities?

As I understand it, based on interviews conducted with only one person, you came here to propose amendments to the Conflict of Interest Act and to state that the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is not independent enough to judge people's integrity and honesty.

Could you confirm that you were indeed inspired by only one person?

[Samuel Cooper]

That's not quite correct. In terms of the technicalities with regard to the act and recommendations for improvements, most of my knowledge would come from Mr. Conacher. I have followed reporting on the hearings. I haven't watched every day.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Thank you, Mr. Cooper.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Thank you, Ms. Lapointe.

We have 10 minutes left in the meeting.

Mr. Barrett, over to you for five minutes. Afterward, Mr. Saini can have the floor for five minutes as well.

Mr. Barrett, go ahead, please, for five minutes.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

Does the lack of transparency in the investments that Prime Minister Carney has present a risk to the confidence that Canadians can have in our democratic institutions?

Specifically, you look at things like the global transition funds that he set up when he was at Brookfield. Do we know what is bundled up in those investments? Of the investments that are included, who is benefiting from those investments that Brookfield made—which foreign state or adversarial state-owned enterprises or controlled enterprises, for example? What investments are domiciled in offshore tax havens?

Is that a lack of transparency? Does it present a challenge, in your view, when Parliament, the media and members of the public are trying to have clarity and certainty around the interests that a public office holder has? We hear, “We'll just leave this all in the hands of the Ethics Commissioner,” but there is some opaqueness that the Ethics Commissioner isn't able to cut through as well, and the commissioner certainly doesn't have a mandate to dig into the level of detail that you have on the relationships that led to some of those investment decisions.

[Samuel Cooper]

In my reporting, the nature of the many different investments that Brookfield has with Chinese state entities, and there are some investments connecting to Middle Eastern entities.... As you said, I reported on the nature of investment funds or vehicles run through lower-transparency jurisdictions in the Caribbean. I think all of those present fair questions for Canadians who follow these matters closely.

I also agree with others in this hearing or the prior hearing, and with Mr. Wernick, in that I don't think hope and trust on the part of Canadians is a good policy, especially in light of the rising geopolitical risks that we recognize Canada is facing.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

It's been proposed by some and discussed here at this committee that in the term in the act that requires that the public office holder divest their controlled assets, the definition that allows them to simply move them into a blind trust doesn't achieve what we now see with the fullness of time is what we need to have happen in order to maintain Canadians' confidence.

Do you think that divesting, and by having the public office holder sell their assets and then have the funds managed and reinvested in trust, would improve the confidence that Canadians have and add another safeguard, so that Canadians know that the decisions public office holders—the cabinet and the Prime Minister—are taking are in the national interest and not in their personal interests or their own financial interests?

[Samuel Cooper]

I absolutely think that is a step that would give the average Canadian a greater level of confidence. It's my own personal opinion that for a very international business person of the level of Prime Minister Carney or former prime minister Paul Martin, it's just the nature of global investment that you will often be engaging with foreign states or very wealthy people from foreign states, so—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Just—

[Samuel Cooper]

—I do believe what the member suggested is a good step.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Go ahead, Mr. Cooper. You have 30 seconds.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Just to jump in, you referenced earlier that the Prime Minister had met with individuals affiliated with the United Front at the Jiangsu Chamber of Commerce in Markham.

That wasn't the only time that Mr. Carney met with United Front leaders during the Liberal leadership, was it? He also met with United Front leaders in Richmond East—Steveston, which was the epicentre of the disinformation campaign by Beijing against Kenny Chiu. Is that correct?

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

You can give a quick response, Mr. Cooper.

[Samuel Cooper]

I recognize from open reporting from my colleague, Bob Mackin, in Vancouver, that video evidence did show that United Front-associated members were at that meeting with Mr. Carney.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Thank you, Mr. Cooper.

Mr. Saini, please go ahead for five minutes.

[Gurbux Saini, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As a journalist, you often report stories with unnamed intelligence or law enforcement sources. Without transparency about who these individuals are or their motivation, how can Canadians place confidence in your conclusions or in your ability to separate fact from politics?

[Samuel Cooper]

It's a great question. Canadians would have to look at my track record, which is excellent, but not perfect. No one is perfect.

I can add a bit more about why Canadians should trust me. As I said, I attended the University of Toronto, as both of my parents did. I attended journalism school—I considered going into law but chose journalism, because I believed in the power of truth. All I can put forward is a bit about my background as it exists.

[Gurbux Saini, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Mr. Cooper, I understand you're involved in some lawsuits currently, and there's a record of your having spoken and told lies to other committees.

How can we, after knowing all of that record, believe that your information is credible?

[Samuel Cooper]

I strongly disagree with your statement. Maybe you can expand on that if you would like.

[Gurbux Saini, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Have you settled any lawsuits, or are you involved in lawsuits currently based on your reporting?

[Samuel Cooper]

There are lawsuits in relation to reporting on election interference, but I can't comment on legal matters in this forum.

[Gurbux Saini, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Have you settled out of court on some of those issues in the past?

[Samuel Cooper]

Records exist, and the member can search them if he wants. I'm not at liberty to discuss legal issues in this hearing.

[Gurbux Saini, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Mr. Cooper, I'm asking you personally if you have settled out-of-court settlements because of the stuff that you have printed?