Government Operations Committee on Sept. 12th, 2024

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Brock, I'm sorry.

Go ahead on the point of order, please.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Brock said it's “every man's dream” to have a golf simulator. I just want to clarify on the record that it is not my dream.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Okay—

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I'd prefer if he didn't misrepresent people.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Colleagues, could we not descend to this? Thanks.

Go ahead, Mr. Brock.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Clark, is it a requirement of your position to have a $19,000 oven, a $13,000 refrigerator, a $4,600 coffee maker and an $11,000 freezer? Is that a requirement of your position, sir, or did you ask for that?

[Thomas Clark]

Nope.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Enjoy it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks, Mr. Brock.

We will now go to Mr. Jowhari. Go ahead, please, for five minutes.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Clark. Thank you for keeping your composure. I noticed that at times you went red, took your glasses off and kind of shook your head.

I also want to apologize on behalf of our side. We respect the work you're doing. We respect the person you are. We thank you for coming here and for answering questions. The name-calling is not something that we support. The point of view of the colleague across the aisle is not something that we share.

That being said, in your comments you talked about the fact that we should not look at trade as Canada only or as the U.S. only; we should look at trade as the North American bloc. That is, I think, the core of what we need to do, especially, as you highlighted, after COVID-19 and the restrictions around the supply chain, after the war in Ukraine and after the instability that exists in the Middle East around some of the energy sources. The more we are aligned with our neighbours and the more we think as an integrated bloc, with the ability to be able to respond within hours, as you said, is the core of this.

I want to bring another lens to it, which I think puts it into perspective. As you said, we are all, as Canadians and Americans, dealing with affordability and the cost of living. How will ensuring that this tight relationship not only continues to exist but focuses around energy, such as the zero-carbon economy as well as key critical minerals, ensure that the trading bloc becomes one and helps with the affordability and helps with the stability that we really need in this part of the world and that I can say doesn't exist anywhere else?

[Thomas Clark]

Yes, I completely agree with you.

Let me take you through a couple of issues on this point on which I've had extensive discussions with governors, senators and congressmen in the area of my responsibility.

The one thing that is top of mind for governors in my area is energy—not only keeping up with what they have now, but whether they will have enough energy to be part of the new economy that's coming. When we talk about the integrated relationship of the economies of Canada and the United States, this is where it really comes into play.

Take a look at, for example, semiconductors. This is a key part of the new economy. We have a semiconductor corridor between Albany, New York, and Bromont, Quebec, that is second to none in the world. We have equipment that is second to none in the world. We do packaging and research in Bromont, Quebec. That is vital to what the chip economy is going to be demanding. We're already integrated into that, and that is an industry that is hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars large. If we missed out on an opportunity to be part of that, then it would be a disaster for our country. I can happily say that we are fully engaged in that, fully engaged in being part of that supply chain and fully engaged in creating opportunities, not only for Canadian workers but for Canadian academics, inventors and the people who are going to be necessary to what we want to do.

You know, I often say that there are four elements to the new economy: land, water, talent and energy. Those are the four things that you need to be part of the new economy. Canada has all of them. Canada has the most educated workforce in the world. We have land, we have water, and we have energy. We have to keep our eye on the ball. We have to understand how we can be part of a North American solution to what is a growing challenge for the entire world.

We're really well positioned. We have the right people. We have the right industries. All we have to do is seize the opportunities and let everybody know, especially the Americans, that we literally are their very best friends. As one person said, Americans are our best friends whether we like it or not. That was said in the 1960s. It's humorous, but it is true. There is no closer relationship in the world than Canada and the United States.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you for helping us seize that opportunity.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thank you, gentlemen.

Mrs. Vignola, please go ahead for two and a half minutes.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Clark, in 2006, in a different country—Peru, if I remember correctly—an official residence was built at a cost of $16 million. It would obviously cost more if it was built today. However, in your opinion, if we'd had to build something in New York, would we have gotten away with it for $9 million?

[Thomas Clark]

In my opinion, no.

First of all, building anything in New York is almost impossible. Plus, $9 million is not enough in New York.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Okay.

I know there are also semi-detached houses for sale in New York.

In your humble opinion, would a semi-detached have been a safe and more affordable option for an official residence?

[Thomas Clark]

There are security issues. It's best not to talk about these rules in public. However, they are absolutely necessary.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Okay.

Do you have any idea why Global Affairs Canada specified a minimum of three bedrooms? Why were one or two bedrooms not enough?

[Thomas Clark]

That's a very good question.

The residence model that we have for all Canadians who carry out missions in New York is designed for families. There always needs to be three bedrooms. Families with children might even need four bedrooms.

As you can see, it's hard to find something in New York with one or two bedrooms that also has a room big enough to do business in.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Okay.

I heard you talk earlier about a rent of $1,800. In your opinion, what can be found in Montreal for $1,800? A three and a half or a four and a half?

[Thomas Clark]

I have no idea how that $1,800 was arrived at. Those are the rules of Global Affairs Canada.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Okay.

Thank you very much, Mr. Clark.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks, Mrs. Vignola.

Mr. Bachrach, please go ahead.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Clark, you've asserted several times in this meeting that you had no role in either the sale of the old property or the purchase of the new one. I'm a little bit confused by the fact that you toured the new apartment after the offer had been made, before the deal had closed.

Was that the first time that you became aware of the sale and purchase process by Global Affairs?