Evidence of meeting #4 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was process.
NDP
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Excuse me, Madam Chair. The NDP is not on trial here. I really take offence to these partisan attacks on my party. I'm not the person who's being challenged.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
I hope that won't be taken out of my time, Madam Chair.
Liberal
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
Thank you.
I just wondered if you would reflect on how difficult it is to attract people to public service, given the fact that this is a transparent process and that that kind of prejudging of your background and your capability, even though you've been voted the top business leader in Canada, should be motivating this kind of process. Does the government's ability to attract people to serve in the kinds of roles and the process that you'll be overseeing concern you?
As an Individual
Thank you for that question.
Let me put it this way. One of the reasons I considered and accepted the nomination of the Prime Minister was that I hoped we could start a trend of having people who have been successful in all different walks of life, be they business or any other walk of life, saying at some point, “I can do something for my country, and this particular thing that has become available can meet what I'm good at, and I can put aside all of my views and all of my everything else and say this is the thing that really fits me; and I'm prepared to do this for service for our country and put in the time and effort and go through all kinds of processes to see that I can contribute.”
I would hope that many other business leaders, other leaders in different walks of life in the country, at a point in their life when they're in a position to do so, as I am, will do this. I hope that will be encouraged, and it's actually one of the biggest reasons for my accepting this nomination.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
Mr. Morgan, the questions of partisanship and your record of donations to my party have been raised by some members here. Isn't it true that you have been a contributor as well to other political parties?
As an Individual
Let me give you the record, because it was also commented, Madam Chair, about the--
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
To be honest, Mr. Morgan, this really has no relevance to this committee. We've already decided that your political affiliation, which we know, is not part of what we're here to examine.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
I accept that ruling, Madam Chair. I just wish that it had been--
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
That's fine, but it had been entered as evidence, and I think it's important--
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
--that Mr. Morgan has been a donor to the Liberal Party.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
I wish you'd withdraw that question, because I don't think it has anything to do with what we're doing here today.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
All right. I'm sorry that the previous questions weren't asked to be withdrawn as well. But in any event--
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
Okay.
Mr. Morgan, how many speeches would you estimate you've given in public venues or forums over your professional career? In the range of magnitude--over a hundred?
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
We've heard, I think, two or three lines from one of those over 100 speeches that you've pronounced in your professional career. Are there any other public utterances that you've made, public opinions that have been expressed, in your adult life, professional life, that have drawn similar controversy, to your knowledge?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
Thank you very much.
Your five minutes is up, Mr. Kenney.
Mr. Alghabra, you have five minutes. Please remember that it's for both for question and answer.
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Morgan, I know you are trying to minimize the fact that this commission is not going to be heavily involved in the actual appointments, but the fact of the matter is the buck stops at this commission when it comes to federal government appointments. The commission's role is to oversee the processes and how the government is conducting its appointments, so it's very important for Canadians to get a sense of comfort in evaluating who the chair of that commission will be. That is why we're conducting this interview today; it's very important for us, for Canadians, to feel out your views, your principles, and your values, and learn how you are going to express them, consciously or subconsciously, throughout your conduct in this commission.
We've talked about a couple of statements that were made in one speech. In fact, there were more than just two statements, and all of them were in one speech.
Mr. Kenney just asked you a question about other speeches. I have a speech here that was made on February 22 to the Empire Club. This is a different speech. I am going to quote: “Recent riots in France and Australia are timely and troubling examples. It seems as if multiculturalism in these countries has created subcultures bearing little relation to the mainstream culture and values of the country.”
That also is troubling, as we try to get a sense of your opinion on multiculturalism. Is that in fact your opinion on multiculturalism? Would you like to clarify that statement?
As an Individual
Madam Chair, that was a lead-in to a quote from Australian articles that were commenting on the difficulties in Australia. The point here--and again, this was not my invention, but the view in Australia that was coming forward--was that the country had set up what they called multiculturalism, but what that really meant was isolationism. They were bringing people--
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
What about multiculturalism in Canada? I'm more interested in how you see multiculturalism in Canada.