Government Operations Committee on Aug. 21st, 2024

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

The language being used, Mr. Chair, is not respectful of our witness.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

You do not have the floor, Mr. Longfield. You've been an MP long enough to know that if you wish to interrupt, you call a point of order.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

On a point of order, Chair, you've been an MP long enough to know what a point of order is.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Oh my goodness.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

You should follow committee rules. If you continue like that, I will not recognize you, Mr. Longfield. I take your point, but that is not a valid point of order.

Please allow Mrs. Block to continue. I'm sure she'll get to her point.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Rarely do I cut to the chase, as I have just done, but your department sent this committee a letter, which stated that 50 events were held at the consul general's residence over the past two years. It wasn't 50 events in one year. That's one event every two weeks.

As a result of the information you've given us, I would like you to table with this committee a list of those events, together with their purpose and the number of attendees. Now, because of this contrary information you've provided us today, I would also like the dates of all of those events included.

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, I'd like to clarify that in the opening remarks that were provided, it was indeed two years. I might have misunderstood what was mentioned during the fast-paced talking that was going on. It is truly two years.

I'd like to add that as the public service, we're here to represent the great work we're doing, and I take exception when we're being accused of being liars. We're here—

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Then tell the truth.

[Stéphane Cousineau]

—for value for money, to do good stewardship and to provide Canadians with what's best for them.

Thank you.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Thank you, Mr. Cousineau. I accept your explanation that you were caught off guard like the rest of us were in the midst of the rant prior to the break.

Mr. Kusmierczyk also accused the Conservatives of wanting to downsize when, in fact, this is the argument that you and the officials have made as one of the reasons for why this is such an acceptable place for the consul general to be moving to. Which is it? What's the official government line?

Is it because it's a smaller residence and you want to downsize that you're pursuing this residence, or is it something else?

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, as it was mentioned—

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I just want to clarify—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

That's not a point of order.

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

—that I said the Conservative Party wanted to downgrade. The word is "downgrade". That's what I said.

[Some hon. members]

[Inaudible—Editor].

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Colleagues, please. Let's have one person at a time. Allow Mr. Kusmierczyk to make his point of order, and I will decide.

Could you start again, Mr. Kusmierczyk?

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Yes. Respectfully, Mr. Chair, I said I used the word "downgrade". I said the Conservatives wanted to downgrade.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

That is not a point of order. We will continue.

Go ahead, Mrs. Block.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Can you just reiterate for us whether, in fact, one of the reasons this is a more acceptable location is that it's a smaller residence than the one the consul general is currently residing in?

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, I'm going to go back to my opening remarks. We made the decision based on multiple factors. One of them was the net present value it was bringing. The second was meeting all of the future needs and value for money for Canadians. While we are downsizing, it was not the main factor.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

All right. Thank you very much.

In the letter we received from Ms. McCardell, she cited that there were other issues raised about the suitability of the current residence. These issues included “lack of proper division of family and representational spaces, and restrictions on events imposed by the cooperative board.”

What are the rules for the new condo? Did you ensure that you would be allowed to bring in large groups of strangers for events at this exclusive condo building?

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, I welcome the question.

As you can imagine, with the co-op model that exists, there were a lot of restrictions that we had to face, which was very challenging. We know that in the new location we're going to, there will be more flexibility, making us more agile for those representations.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Did you confirm whether there were any rules with regard to the types of events you hope to hold in the new residence?

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, I would respond by saying that the current situation with the co-op and the restrictions we have will not apply to the co-op environment in the new condo. We're expecting more flexibility, for sure.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK]

Are there any rules that you are aware of?