—but you would just like their name?
Evidence of meeting #47 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cabinet.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #47 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cabinet.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
—but you would just like their name?
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
It was our director of policy, Rick Theis, a very long-time, hard-working political staffer in this town.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
It was Rick Theis. Okay.
Was that the only conversation the PMO had with the WE Charity or its associated groups?
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
No. As I previously stated, there was a handful in total—
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
Well, a handful usually suggests around five. I don't have an exact number. There were a few interactions—
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
—around the time of the announcement.
5:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Give Ms. Telford time to answer, Mr. Poilievre.
Go ahead, Ms. Telford.
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
There was some back-and-forth around the time of the launch of the program. It's perfectly normal and actually expected.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Okay. We want their names, and we expect that you will submit their names. Will you give us the names, yes or no?
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
I can get back to you.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
I can look into that.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Okay: so you're obviously trying to cover up who they are and their identities—
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
No, I'm trying to answer—
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
—whatever questions you might have for them.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
I'm sorry; I have the floor now and I have a question right now.
Is there anything that might have happened in the conversation with Rick and WE that would have alerted WE that they could begin implementing the program on May 5, yes or no?
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
No, I don't believe so.
Actually, as I already stated, he actually redirected the organization, with which he had a very general discussion. He redirected them to ESDC.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Okay, that's interesting, because ESDC, we're told, is the one that then told them they could start working on May 5. It's very strange, because the Prime Minister claimed that the decision was not made in cabinet until May 22. If the PMO was not directing the work to begin, then who told WE that they could start working on a project that would not go on to exist for at least another 12 or 13 days?
5:50 p.m.
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
One of your colleagues already asked me about this, and I will repeat my answer, which is that the program only launched at the end of June. In terms of the details of how the program was constructed and the—