Evidence of meeting #26 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 know.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Siobhan Coady Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Well, it's in your contract that you would: finder's advisory fees.
Anyway, I'm going to move on.
We now know that you discussed three multi-million dollar proposals with Brian Jean's office, and the particular $290 million proposal was marked: “From Rahim. Submit to department.” This was marked on that proposal.
Liberal
Siobhan Coady Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
What did Mr. Jean tell you, when you spoke with him, as to what would occur out of that proposal?
Green Power Generation Corporation
He didn't tell us anything different from what was on the website for the green infrastructure fund. He basically said to us that if we had any potential proposals that we were thinking about, we would be free, like anybody, to submit them. They would go through a process that would be evaluated to see if they were even fitting with the particular fund; if they were, then we would be asked to submit an application.
Liberal
Siobhan Coady Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Not everyone gets personal attention, I don't think, from—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Mr. Jaffer, before I go to the next round, when you were responding to Ms. Coady you said you had thousands of e-mails on your personal account. We had a motion for the production of documents; we haven't received those.
Green Power Generation Corporation
That was relating to government business. Not everything in my e-mails is related to any government business.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
So whatever you have sent us, you are telling us that you have given us whatever was related to your GPG business?
Green Power Generation Corporation
Everything relating to government--that was what it asked for. I have a lot of other things that I would communicate on my own personal and business e-mail.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
No, we just wanted your business e-mails that are pertaining.... I'm just clarifying that you've given us everything we had asked for.
Green Power Generation Corporation
Yes, it's all the relevant documentation according to the production of papers.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Mr. Gillani's testimony is in the blues, and as an MP you can always access the blues. So I think that excuse will not....
Yes, okay. Anybody can access the blues.
The next round is Monsieur Guimond's.
You have eight minutes.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Jaffer, I hope that you plan to tell the truth today. In our view, you lied on several occasions when you appeared last April. I can tell you that there is a great deal of doubt about your credibility.
I will give you some examples. When you appeared before us, you denied having used your old business card to promote your personal business. You said: “Again, you're pulling these things out from a great source—your source—The Toronto Star.” I am reading your testimony.
Do you still deny having used your old member's card to promote your personal business?
Green Power Generation Corporation
Thank you for the question and the opportunity to clarify, Mr. Guimond.
I can say to you very clearly that I did not make it a habit to give out my old business cards. I understand—
Green Power Generation Corporation
Yes, systematically I did not make it a habit to give out my old business cards.
I recall in that particular meeting.... This is where the clarification happened when some of the witnesses appeared. After being defeated and not working as an MP, I very rarely wore the clothes that I used to, especially business suits. When I went to this particular meeting, which I was invited to attend—I know I was ill-prepared—I reached into my pocket and found these old business cards. I remember qualifying it, and I think you had a witness also say that I crossed a lot of the information out, because it was all I had in my pocket, but I qualified it—
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Mr. Harvey, who appeared before us, showed us a business card that you had given him in August 2009. Is that accurate?
Green Power Generation Corporation
Excuse me, Mr. Guimond. Let me just say, I did tell him and I qualified it that this was a collector's item. I don't know why I would take the time to advertise the fact that I was—
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
On that card, which we have a copy of, your title is Member for Edmonton—Strathcona, I believe, and President of the Conservative National Caucus. By handing out your card to Mr. Harvey or anyone else, you are implying that you had privileged access to the government.
My Liberal colleague asked you a question. You said that you met with Brian Jean and that he told you to simply look at the Web site. You allegedly met with ministers simply so that they could tell you to go to the Web site for information? Come on! That doesn't hold water.
Green Power Generation Corporation
There were a few questions there.
On the business card issue, I will just say that I only met Mr. Harvey once, at that meeting. I did qualify that I was no longer an MP. Nobody challenged that. They knew I wasn't an MP, but—
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
No, don't go back to my question on your business card. You confirmed that Mr. Harvey had told the truth. I want to know about your privileged access to ministers in the Conservative government as a former Conservative member having held several positions over the years and as former President of the Conservative National Caucus. That's what I want to know.