Evidence of meeting #15 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was meeting.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
He's a former councillor. That doesn't make sense to me.
How long have you known Mr. Tamburello? Is he a friend of yours?
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
What's your definition of a friend?
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
What do you mean by a...?
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
I worked for the mayor of Montreal, Mr. Holland. Mr. Tamburello was the borough mayor for an opposing party. So I guess I was friends with Mr. Tamburello the same way I am with you, sir.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
Okay.
Is it correct that Mr. Tamburello was an executive vice-president of the municipal political party you used to work for?
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
When I worked at the city of Montreal, sir, Mr. Tamburello was a borough mayor with Vision Montréal. I worked for the mayor's party, which was not Vision Montréal. I left in August of 2002 to move to Ottawa, when Mr. Tamburello was still a municipal councillor with the opposition party.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
So he wasn't just a friend, but he was also a political ally.
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
As I stated previously, sir, he was a member of the opposing party once I left city hall.
February 28th, 2008 / 9:25 a.m.
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
I would say if Mr. Tamburello was a political ally from the opposing party, then I assume that you are as much a political ally to me today.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
Later in 2007 you talked about another Montreal city councillor who asked you to look into the Rosdev file. It was the brother of Mayor Tremblay—correct?—who, by all accounts, came very close to being a Conservative candidate in the Outremont by-election. Can you tell us what you said to him?
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
Mr. Tremblay raised the issue as something that he had heard in the community, and I informed Mr. Tremblay that this matter was before the court, sir.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
Wouldn't you say that having the support of a wealthy member of the Montreal civic community--such as the owner of Rosdev developments, Michael Rosenberg--would have been beneficial to the Conservative Party's candidate in the by-election?
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
I don't know of any party-related responsibilities, sir. I work for the Government of Canada.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
You have no party-related responsibilities? You don't have any partisan responsibilities?
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
My only paycheque comes in from the Government of Canada, sir. There are party officials who work for the Conservative Party who take those considerations into account.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
Did you run as a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada?
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
Which phone number did Mr. Tamburello call you at to inquire in a personal fashion about the Rosdev file?
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
Pardon me, I missed that. Would you mind repeating that, sir?
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
At what phone number did Mr. Tamburello call you to inquire in a personal fashion about the Rosdev file?
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
I have a BlackBerry, I have a cellphone, I have an office line, there's a switchboard....