Finance Committee on July 30th, 2020

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

No.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

I suspected that might be a problem. It's very convenient timing for the lights to go out.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

I got a message to the effect that his power's gone out. I have no reason to distrust him.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

I hope you don't pull the fire alarm now.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

There's no intent…. In my own private home here, in the middle of a pandemic, I don't have a fire alarm. I propose—

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Fraser, the general process is that the vice-chair assumes the chairing of the meeting, so we'll continue.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Pierre Poilievre]

That would be me. We'll continue the meeting and I now give the floor to the member for Carleton.

Mr. Prime Minister, you have…. I'm going to ask you one last time. How much did your family get from this organization? How much?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Have you read the Conflict of Interest Act, Mr. Poilievre?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Pierre Poilievre]

Yes, I have.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

How does it define “family”?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Pierre Poilievre]

I'm asking you how much your family got.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

The Conflict of Interest Act defines “family” as spouse and direct dependants.

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Point of order....

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Pierre Poilievre]

Right, so you're not going to answer the question then.

[A voice]

Wait a second.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

I can say that my family has not received any money that was paid—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Pierre Poilievre]

So you're not going to answer the question about how much your family received.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

My wife did not receive any payment—

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Hold it, gentlemen, if you….

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

—for working with WE, and it was cleared by the Ethics Commissioner ahead of time.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Prime Minister—

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

On a point of order, can I welcome back Wayne Easter, a man we've deeply missed?

Come on, Wayne, where have you been? Were you out getting a coffee?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

I had things under control for you while you were gone.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

I imagine that, Pierre. It wouldn't be the first time you tried to put my lights out, and that's exactly what happened. We get a thunderstorm here.

Anyway, you're well into your five minutes, but go with one last question.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Trudeau, I'm going to conclude by asking you….

You claim that you have no knowledge of the amount that has been paid in expenses to your spouse. You correctly pointed out that the act defines “family” as including a spouse. Therefore, you know you're under investigation regarding the act....

I'm going to ask you again. How much, in total—and I'm looking for a dollar figure here, sir—did your spouse receive in reimbursed expenses or other benefits from this organization? How much?