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.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
How long have you been a professional? Straight after university you moved into the professional world?
Conservative
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
And at least over 100 public speeches and things of that nature. And to your knowledge, in that 40 years of professional life and probably over 100 speeches, this is the first time you've seen these kinds of accusations made, questioning your motives and regard for other people?
As an Individual
Yes, it is, and I must say, Madam Chair, that thinking back on this, of course, the whole title of the speech was “What Politicians Are Afraid to Say”. I didn't expect to be sitting here in this role, but I could have said it much better. I do regret that I didn't.
Liberal
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
Yes, one more question in terms of the appointment process.
Do you believe you will be making recommendations in terms of parliamentary engagement on potential nominees for senior positions in the public service? Do you have any views on that?
As an Individual
Madam Chair, it's a little too early for me to express a view on that. All I've been able to do so far is understand the specific mandate of the commission that is set out in the act. My belief is that processes of Parliament and processes of judges and other things are not going to be the purview of the commission and we will be, as I understand it, strictly related to setting up the process intended to govern the appointments to government agencies.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
I believe we have one five-minute period to be split between the two of you, and that would be the end of it.
Please, Mr. Alghabra, followed by Mr. Volpe, or vice versa. Fine by me.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Mr. Morgan, I think one of the precepts in business is value for money. When you have the courage to write a commission report indicating the process didn't meet your standards, what would the consequences be for the Prime Minister, aside from tabling the report in the House?
As an Individual
Madam Chair, I would say that probably our main influence in this process is going to be tabling a report.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
So how will your report differ from an expanded role for the Auditor General?
As an Individual
I think there is going to have to be an audit process for us to be able to make that report, and we haven't figured out yet...again, we have to get going here in terms of exactly how we do things, but we will have to have some auditors.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Will the auditor then examine your statements in this committee that said essentially the five commissioners are going to get a dollar apiece, but you're going to have a secretariat of probably about 20 people making--well, you didn't say this part, but I would imagine if they take your statements these are going to be experts in the field--they're going to be making at least $50,000 plus benefits and overhead. That comes out to...well, I don't know, you're the guy in business, how many millions per year?
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
But it comes out at close to $2 million, at least. Is that right?
They are going to write a report that might be tabled in the House. Will that be the extent of the business ethic; in other words, once you submit a report, you either promote or consolidate, i.e., fire?
As an Individual
Madam Chair, the process will be more extensive than that, because the code of conduct itself hasn't yet been put together. I've outlined a few comments or a few parts of it, but it will change the way things are done right at the grassroots. The report will check to see that those grassroots changes have in fact taken place.
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to re-emphasize the purpose of this exercise. This exercise is for us to understand your values, principles, and leadership, and how you're going to express them through this appointment. We're doing that throughout, examining your ideas, values, and speeches.
Mr. Kenney continues to help me out. He previously asked whether you had any other speech, and he asked you as well whether in a public forum, other than this one, you've ever been confronted about unacceptable views.
Yesterday I actually saw a documentary called Between Midnight and the Rooster's Crow, where, in a shareholders' meeting of EnCana, you were confronted with the consequences of the company in Ecuador, the negative environmental consequences, the social impact on farmers, etc. This was a documentary. It also documented the impact that it had, and you were also confronted in a public forum about unacceptable views that I think most Canadians would share. It's a very interesting documentary, and I found it very informative and valuable.
Thank you.
Liberal
As an Individual
I'll only make a quick comment.
The documentary is very extreme and shows a total distortion of the way the company operated in the country. The company actually received environmental awards and social awards for their work in the country. Everybody in the company is proud of the record of this company in Ecuador--the company I used to be with, I should say. I think you would find that, if you travelled there.