Foreign Affairs Committee on Aug. 4th, 2022

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Minister, I have the floor. We had three diplomats speaking to The Globe and Mail, potentially at some risk to their own careers to speak out—

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

I would be very interested in having that information—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

And let me finish, Minister. Yes, I'm sure you'd like to have the names of the diplomats who spoke to the Globe—

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

—because I think it's very important we get to the bottom of this story—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

—and Minister, I've asked you—

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

—because you can be sure, Garnett, that this is—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Chair, could you call the minister to order?

Minister, I'm speaking.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

—something that I take very seriously. This is a life or death situation—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

It's my time. Yes, Minister, and you—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Marty Morantz]

Mr. Genuis, you have the floor.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

—and as a minister and a human being, I'm very concerned to make sure that we do the right thing.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

The Five Eyes gave a briefing, Minister, and you won't tell us whether you have that information.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

And so Garnett, I'm sorry—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

—and now you're trying to take over the time, Minister, despite the chair's direction.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

No, I'm not trying to take over the time.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Minister, you have not answered the question—

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

I'm presenting to you what is the moral decision, the right moral decision—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

It was a clear question that I asked you, which was whether or not The Globe and Mail story is correct according to your information. You chose not to answer it and I think most Canadians—

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

According to my information, I don't agree with the facts that are stated—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

—will conclude that that story is accurate and, frankly, it is disgraceful—

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

A point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Marty Morantz]

Yes, Mr. Bergeron. You have the floor for a point of order.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

I hate to have to interrupt my colleague, but I thought the main focus of this meeting was on the permit to transfer the turbines to Germany.

I know the issue of relevance has been interpreted fairly broadly, and I think that has been the case so far. However, I would like to get back to the heart of the matter, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Marty Morantz]

That's a very good point, Mr. Bergeron.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Chair, I have my hand up on a point of order as well.