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.
February 28th, 2008 / 10:20 a.m.
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
As I said, the issue was raised with me, as are many other issues. There is the example of a Bloc MP, who raised an important issue of a commercial nature to his riding.
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
And I find it quite common that people do that. It's part of doing their job.
NDP
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
And it's my responsibility--
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I've never written to a communications member in the Prime Minister's Office to look into a file.
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
As you heard earlier, sir--
NDP
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
As you heard earlier, sir, I have two responsibilities, so it's not uncommon for people to raise issues important to their constituents, issues important to their riding, issues that--
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
It goes to several people, sir, responsible for whatever file they're responsible for, and ultimately you have to pass on the information to the minister's office. On this particular file, as I said, I inquired, I got briefed, and the matter remained before the courts, sir.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
The Conservatives have certainly helped clarify a lot of things for me this morning, because they've established that a man like Mr. Rosenberg, with his role in the federal government, would meet Public Works ministers often, perhaps at $1,000-a-plate Liberal dinners in the past. But it would not be uncommon that he would meet with Public Works ministers because he's tied to Public Works, and yet you are the point person on this. Mr. Loiselle said and you said the PMO wanted this matter dealt with. Why is Mr. Fortier completely absent from this picture, just as he is from the House of Commons?
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
With all due respect, sir, this issue was raised and information was sought and ultimately nothing changed. As Mr. Duceppe said a few years ago when $96,000 went from Groupe Action to the Parti Québécois, no favours were exchanged. This was not a case of exchanging favours.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
No, but the fact that you fire blanks as a broker doesn't mean you're not a broker. The question is, why did this matter go to the PMO? And why has Michael Fortier not met, why has Michael Fortier stayed out of this file, why is he absent on this file, and it goes to you? Who delegated your authority? Was it the Prime Minister himself who asked you to look into this? Was it Sandra Buckler who said you have to deal with this? Or did you go to them and say we have a problem, I want to look into it, I want the authority to call Public Works officials in my capacity working in the Prime Minister's Office? Just tell me how that happened.
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
As I said, sir--and you're saying that Minister Fortier's office was in the dark--I forwarded the file to Minister Fortier's office, inquired about it, got briefed, and no change was made, sir.
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
I told you earlier, sir, that if you have any questions regarding the operations of the Office of the Prime Minister, you're more than welcome to ask his chief of staff or the Prime Minister.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
You don't have to tell me their names, but you had authority from the Prime Minister's Office. You weren't flying solo here.
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
You're more than welcome to ask either his chief of staff or the Prime Minister--
NDP
Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
I work for the Prime Minister's Office, sir.
NDP
Liberal
Liberal
