Evidence of meeting #11 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was business.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:15 p.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
Maybe you should wait for that, because obviously you're not the judge and jury, Mr. Martin.
But I think it will be clear that we haven't done anything wrong. As I mentioned throughout this exchange today, that's not the nature of our business. You can allege from any reports that you wish and slander me if you wish.
4:15 p.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
The damage is already done to me, and I don't think it will make any difference.
But in the end what we're trying to get to is how fast and furious people play here with people's reputations when there is no evidence to the contrary that we've done anything wrong. And that's one of the reasons we're here in front of you today.
We read the exact parts of the Lobbying Act that would apply if we were doing any lobbying. We would have registered and we would have done that. But that's not the nature of our business.
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Let me just ask you, under oath, have you ever suggested to anyone that you have better access to these government funds by virtue of your relationship as a former member of Parliament?
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Have you ever used your previous MP's business card during the course of promoting any private business?
4:15 p.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
Again, you're pulling these things out from a great source--your source--The Toronto Star.
4:15 p.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
I can tell you, sir, that none of these things--
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Have you ever circulated your MP's business card after you ceased to be an MP?
4:15 p.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
I don't even understand what good that would provide. It would--
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
It would only imply that you still have some sort of relationship to Parliament, even though you're no longer a member of Parliament.
4:15 p.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
As I said, I'll go back to my opening statement, because I think it's clear that--
4:20 p.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
I told you I never did those things. These are allegations. I never would make unsubstantiated claims that I couldn't follow through.
We're building a new business--
4:20 p.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
Will you let me finish, or do you want to keep cutting me off?
If we're trying to build a business from the ground up that's based on credibility to deliver, the last thing we're going to do is make any claims that we can't deliver. I've told you over and over again throughout my testimony here, as well as in questions, that my number one concern was that my wife, who still served in the government, would never be in any conflict of interest. So I operated my business in that capacity.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Then would you mind tabling all of the e-mail records from the parliamentary account in your wife's office that you were using? I'm not saying you were using it for anything untoward, but will you table that? In fact we could call for the production of that, but we'd like to see the parliamentary e-mail account from your wife's office, whether it's a BlackBerry or a stationary computer.
4:20 p.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
I'm glad you're raising that. I would like the opportunity to respond to that.
There were a number of allegations again that I was using parliamentary resources in an untoward way. I can say that as a member of Parliament, when I served as a member of Parliament, I never abused the parliamentary resources that were given to me for working on behalf of my constituents.
April 21st, 2010 / 4:20 p.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
Nor would I abuse my wife's resources in any capacity.
What had happened, and where the confusion had developed, was after the last election, as you know, we had two weeks to clear my office here in Centre Block. I had no place, I had no office set up, no place to set anything, so I sent whatever boxes I couldn't throw away or couldn't go through to my wife's office. I very rarely ever went in there, other than to do spousal things, like helping her with Christmas cards, sitting in on scheduling meetings, things maybe your spouse does, because my role has changed now.
And ultimately we had a separate office all through the time that I was trying to establish a new business, and we have records of that. The only reason I ever used the BlackBerry was to keep track of what my wife's schedule was, and that was it. I have separate business accounts, separate business e-mail--everything. And I never even went into the office for any work-related business of ours. It was simply to help in any way that I could, as a spouse to my wife.
So it's unfortunate that you're pulling out all these things, again based on allegation, without any facts.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
This is your opportunity to state your case, as you've just done.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you, Mr. Martin.
We now go to the second round of questions.
And I'd like to remind you, Mr. Glémaud, please don't interrupt. I will otherwise have to stop you from talking. So let's be respectful.
I have to apologize to Mr. Martin. He had the right question.
You had the right question, because you asked about the fee, and I made an error in judgment.
Madame Mendes, for five minutes.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Alexandra Mendes Liberal Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Jaffer et Mr. Glémaud, thank you for being here today.
I would like to come back to the three executive summaries of the business proposals you submitted to Mr. Jean or to his office. Would you have us believe that you submitted them out of a desire to be generous to the companies you were dealing with, and who were ultimately your clients?
4:20 p.m.
Green Power Generation Corporation
We submitted them with a view to ascertaining whether the “terms and conditions” of the programs would match the projects these companies were working on. We are in the process of finding the information. If you look at the Treasury Board policy on transfer payments, you will see that it clearly states that recipients must be able to access certain information. We submitted them in order to…
Supposing you submit a letter of interest as part of a business deal. If there is interest expressed, you submit an application. However, there was no interest expressed by the government, and therefore, there was no application.