No.
Evidence of meeting #17 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 gillani.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #17 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 gillani.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
--as to whether he was lobbying or doing any of that type of activity.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I appreciate that, because that truly is what we, as a committee, are undertaking in terms of our study. We're trying to look at two issues. Number one, was there money given? Number two, was there inappropriate lobbying happening?
We have you here today and we appreciate your testimony, and I think we confirmed early on in this meeting that, in fact, you had no evidence to provide us on those points; we respect and we appreciate that. You've been forthright on that point and you've given us some additional information about peripheral issues.
I only want to give you one additional opportunity to confirm that in fact, as far as you know, no money was given, and that you have no information to provide to us in terms of the lobbying activities that were or were not happening on the Hill.
5:10 p.m.
As an Individual
No, absolutely not. We have no indication. The entire business model HD Retail saw from their perspective was to manipulate their business plan to be acceptable to Mr. Jaffer's green initiatives.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I really appreciate that. I think we have established in this committee that the government has been fully transparent and accountable to the Canadian people by bringing forward all documentation as it relates to any activity that would be construed on the Hill as lobbying, and we continue to hear from witnesses who confirm that.
Certainly we've been able to confirm in the committee that no federal government dollars went to projects that were being funded or being advocated by these two individuals, and I think that's what's important to the Canadian taxpayer and to Canadians in general. We certainly appreciate your testimony today, and I think we do have these points confirmed again. Thank you.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you.
Ms. Coady asked to take your one minute. Are you willing to giver her one minute?
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
--fully established that we don't have any untoward business happening in this study, that we move on to the next study.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
It's 5:15 and, no, I'm sorry; we have business until 5:15, and 5:15 is here. I would like to suspend the committee for 30 seconds. We will go to the motions and the business of the committee.
Thank you very much, Mr. Snowdy, for being here. We will start immediately with the motion.
Are there any problems with this being public?
We will suspend for 30 seconds.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
We are resuming our meeting. I will now go to Mr. Bruinooge for his motion.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate your recognizing me to introduce this motion and have it debated here today.
This motion is primarily an opportunity for a member of Parliament in good standing, Mr. Derek Lee, to address the information that was present on the Sun and Partners website that indicated that some of the elements he provided to that firm. Quoting from that website, as you can see in the motion, I'll just briefly read out that they:
...include acting for foreign and offshore organizations in obtaining operating licences, securing regulatory and governmental approvals for mergers and acquisitions...advising government bodies on international issues regarding cross-border tax collection, anti-dumping issues, and lobbying government on policy issues as well as facilitating intergovernmental relationships
The primary point of this motion is requesting our committee to look into this and perhaps have Mr. Lee advise the committee as to why this occurred. I have spoken with Mr. Lee subsequent to introducing this motion; he seemingly was interested in elucidating on this information.
That is the motion, and I look forward to hearing further debate from the members.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you. I have on the list of speakers Mrs. Mendes and then Ms. Coady.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Alexandra Mendes Liberal Brossard—La Prairie, QC
May I propose a friendly amendment to the motion? It would be to invite the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner to be present at the same hearing.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I don't know if it would be appropriate to have her at the same meeting, but I would absolutely agree to have her in the succession of meetings.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Alexandra Mendes Liberal Brossard—La Prairie, QC
That would be sometime in however many meetings we may have on the issue.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Siobhan Coady Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
I'm not speaking against the motion by any means; my only concern is that we spent a tremendous amount of time establishing a calendar, so I want to make sure we continue with our calendar. I am prepared to sit any time you want on this matter. I think we have to understand that we have a very tight calendar right now, so if the motion passes, I suggest that that we have a special meeting.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I don't want to confirm any calendar allotments at this time. It's important that we change our calendar as things arise. We've done that at every meeting for the last number of months, and I think we'll make time available for the hearings as they come along. Today's not the time to discuss the calendar allotments, but certainly we will make those allotments as a committee as we go along. The chair has made it very clear that nothing is set in stone.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Ms. Coady, I have to recognize you.
Go ahead, Ms. Coady. I think Mr. Brown put his hand up too. No, he didn't.
Go ahead, Ms. Coady.