Government Operations Committee on June 9th, 2010

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Okay.

Then you said that as you were discussing the allegations and letting her know what they were, with each allegation she denied them and said they were not true.

[Arthur Hamilton]

That's correct.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Did she at any time say that's not true, he's making that up, and here's the reason these are being made up? Or did she just deny the allegations?

[Arthur Hamilton]

I believe it was more in the line of strict denial without giving any commentary. Once in a while she would say something like this: That can't be true, because I was doing something else at that point.

So it was something of that nature, but nothing specific. She never had a specific alibi that would impeach Mr. Snowdy's assertion.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

I guess what I'm trying to find out is that if she knew what these allegations were, as you're saying that you disclosed to her, I'm wondering if the conversation also entailed, in her mind, why they were not true and what the motives for these accusations were.

[Arthur Hamilton]

It was more the denial as opposed to the basis for the denial.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

That's all the time.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Okay.

Thank you for that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

No, no, he can answer your question. You just can't ask any more questions.

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Oh, I see. I'm finished. All right.

[Arthur Hamilton]

Thanks. That was my answer. It was more in terms of base denial as opposed to the underlying reasons for the denial.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you.

Ms. Coady, for five minutes.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Thank you very much.

Again, I'm having some confusion here. On one hand you're saying that Mr. Snowdy's testimony and the allegations were enough for you to call Madam Guergis and cause whatever was caused, either her resignation or her removal from caucus and from cabinet; and then, on the other hand, his testimony is not.

It's a little bit confusing there. I don't know if you want to make a comment about that.

[Arthur Hamilton]

I never said Mr. Snowdy's discussions with me were not enough.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

I beg your pardon?

[Arthur Hamilton]

I don't believe I've ever said that Mr. Snowdy's discussions with me were not enough.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Not enough for what?

[Arthur Hamilton]

They are not the full amount of my knowledge, but I never said they were not enough.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

No; on one hand you said the allegations were enough that you brought them forward to the Prime Minister, and that caused a chain reaction over April 8 to 9. Now--just in previous testimony--you're saying that perhaps it's not enough...but in his testimony to the committee.

But I'll move off that point.

[Arthur Hamilton]

I never said that, and we should probably move on to something more productive.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

I beg your pardon?

[Arthur Hamilton]

We should probably move on to something more productive.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Well, thank you for telling me how to do my job. I appreciate that.

[Arthur Hamilton]

I'm not doing that. I just want to help you use your time effectively.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Oh, I'll use my time very well effectively, thank you.

Why did you inform Mr. Snowdy that Madam Guergis was being removed from caucus and cabinet before the Prime Minister made the public announcement? That's what he testified at committee.