Government Operations Committee on May 26th, 2010

[Ian Harvey]

Well, people weren't jumping out of the woodwork to fund our business, especially because we had an agreement in place with Mr. Gillani's company to take us public and raise funds for us. Our ability to terminate that agreement rested first of all on a time period that didn't expire until the fall, and then on other elements, which included the lack of delivery on the agreement itself.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Well, there must have been sufficient information from Mr. Snowdy that if, as you've indicated, it was a matter of national concern, you could go to the RCMP or go to a political party, whatever it might be.

There's a very big difference between going to the RCMP and going to a political party like the Liberal Party or the Conservative Party. That seems like a big swap.

[Ian Harvey]

If he had mentioned the NDP, I would have said yes, give it to the NDP too.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

But understand that when you talk about going to the authorities, this is no disrespect to the Liberals, Conservatives, or for that matter the NDP or the Bloc, but they're not considered the authorities.

[Ian Harvey]

I'm sorry, I forgot the Bloc.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

But if that were the case, if there were such grave concerns, I'm confused by this stretch. I understand going to the... You've indicated here that the RCMP has an ongoing investigation with Mr. Jaffer.

[Ian Harvey]

So I'm led to believe by them, yes. I had a—

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

And who told you that?

[Ian Harvey]

I was asked to go and speak to them, so I did and shared what I had with respect to—

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Can you tell me who told you not to speak to him?

[Ian Harvey]

Can I tell you who told me not to speak to who?

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Well, I'm just trying to clarify now.

[Ian Harvey]

I'm sorry, not to speak to who?

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Well, let's come back again, because I find this a little confusing. Let's come back again.

The RCMP, you've indicated, were investigating Mr. Jaffer.

[Ian Harvey]

Yes.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

All right.

So with that, when Mr. Snowdy said that he had matters of grave concern—and he told you no details of them, but he said they were of grave concern—then you said to take it to wherever he needed to take it, and you mentioned parties and you mentioned the RCMP.

[Ian Harvey]

Yes, that's right.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Had you already been in discussion with the RCMP at that point?

[Ian Harvey]

No. My discussion, as I recall, with the RCMP came...certainly subsequent to April 8.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

And did they indicate who they were investigating?

[Ian Harvey]

No.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

And you didn't ask?

[Ian Harvey]

They indicated that they were investigating Mr. Jaffer, but anything outside of that—

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mr. Holder, your time is up anyway, which is perfect timing.

[Ian Harvey]

Any matters outside of what I previously said were matters of information that I would exchange with them and whether they opened up a further investigation were entirely with them.