Evidence of meeting #23 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was russia.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
I appreciate that. I understand.
When you were doing your due diligence on this decision, did the German government tell you that they needed the return of these turbines to increase gas supply?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
That was never part of the discussion. To the contrary, the discussion—
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
They never told you they needed the turbine so that gas supply could be increased...?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
In terms of increasing gas supply, that was never the case.
Maybe Jonathan wants to add something to that, because in terms of flow of gas—
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Well, no, I'm talking to you. If I want to ask Jonathan a question, I'll ask him a question.
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Marty, I mean, that question actually was the subject of conversations between me and the Germans, as you would expect with energy ministers, so I'm happy to answer your question.
We certainly discussed the issues around gas supply. As you know, there was concern about the reductions within the pipeline and the Russian statement that this was as a result of the turbine. Certainly, we talked about how returning the turbine potentially could address that issue if in fact the Russians were telling the truth—although most of us were of the view that they were not. Therefore, it was really very much about calling the bluff of the Russians.
As my colleague has said, that statement and that approach was supported not just by Germany but by the European Union and by the United States as well.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Minister Wilkinson, at the time you made this decision, was there any discussion of calling Mr. Putin's bluff?
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Absolutely. Certainly, I discussed that with Minister Habeck, who was the German energy minister, on an ongoing basis. That was absolutely part of the conversation.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
That was in late June and early July.
Conservative
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
—I spoke about that with Secretary Blinken at that time. He was also supportive, because we all agreed that we needed to be united against Putin.
Conservative
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
So why didn't you say that when you made the decision?
Bloc
The Vice-Chair Bloc Stéphane Bergeron
Thank you, Ms. Bendayan.
I was just trying to ask the clerk how much time Mr. Morantz had left.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
It's a six-minute round, I believe.
Bloc
The Vice-Chair Bloc Stéphane Bergeron
Thank you.
Mr. Morantz, I will turn the chair back over to you.
Conservative
