Government Operations Committee on Sept. 12th, 2024

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

You were in the motorcade with the Prime Minister, after he was just in the place deemed unfit for you to continue to live in, and you never said, “Look, buddy, thanks for the job; I could use a new jewelled onyx powder room and a handcrafted copper tub”?

[Thomas Clark]

No, I did not.

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

How much representational space is there in the new residence?

[Thomas Clark]

Representational space would represent the majority of the space in the new residence.

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

That's interesting. The dining room, living room and jewelled onyx powder room come to about 860 square feet. Does that sound about right to you? That's what the listing says.

[Thomas Clark]

I have no idea about square feet. I would refer you to the property division at Global Affairs, who handles this.

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

Okay. That leaves about 2,700 square feet for your personal use and 860 square feet for representational. That's 2,700 square feet for your personal use. Canadians are on the hook for paying $9 million for 860 square feet when a perfectly good joint representational space is available at the same property that you're joining us from today. Is that right?

[Thomas Clark]

Your numbers can't be right, because that does not represent reality.

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

Okay. What is the percentage of representational space in the new location? Please bring us back to reality.

[Thomas Clark]

That is a question, Mr. Chair, that should be addressed to the property division at Global Affairs Canada.

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

You had a great deal of certainty to tell me that I'm wrong, but you certainly don't know on what basis I am. I'm referring to exactly the documents that were provided to us by the department that you're now referring me to.

GAC's real estate agent told us that you personally visited the new luxury condo once the selection had been made. Was this a final vetting?

[Thomas Clark]

Not at all; it was after the offer had been made to buy it that I first saw it.

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

Did you ever take a moment, as someone who spent a career in journalism, to question the Prime Minister or anyone on the opulence of this location amid the backdrop of the cost of living crisis we're facing here in Canada, with StatsCan saying that one in four Canadians will be using food banks to feed themselves and their families this month? Did that ever occur to you?

[Thomas Clark]

As I said in my opening statement, Mr. Chair, I am well aware of the challenges being faced by both Canadians and Americans when it comes to housing. In this case, I was not involved in any way, shape or form in the decision to buy this new residence or sell the old residence. That is entirely in the hands of the property division of Global Affairs.

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

When you host functions at the event, do you personally prepare the food? Is it done by your personal chef, or are these events catered?

[Thomas Clark]

I do not have a personal chef, nor do I cook the food, thankfully.

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

These are catered affairs. We were told by the real property division that the necessity for this was that the shared space you have at the office you're in now wasn't suitable to host functions because there wasn't a kitchen to prepare meals. If the meals are being brought in, couldn't they be brought into your office that you're now speaking to us from?

[Thomas Clark]

The bylaws of New York City prohibit us from having a working kitchen in the office. It would be illegal, in fact, for us to put a working kitchen in this office, and—

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

If it's catered, it seems moot whether or not you have a kitchen in there.

We've been told that you're responsible for all of the trade success between Canada and the United States. Can you tell us exactly—just the number, sir—how much trade business you have generated for Canada?

[Thomas Clark]

First of all, Mr. Chair—

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

I'm just looking for a number.

[Thomas Clark]

—I don't know where it was said or who said that I was responsible for all of the trade between Canada and the United States.

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

Since you don't have the number, and I'm out of time....

Canadians want to know: You're the $9-million man, and they want to know what the value is for Canadians. Sir, keep your bags packed in that new place. Conservatives are going to fire you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks, Mr. Barrett.

We will go to Mr. Jowhari for six minutes, please.

Go ahead, sir.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

First of all, let me welcome you, Mr. Clark. Thank you for coming to the committee. Thank you for clarifying a number of things. I strongly suggest that you do not pack anything. We need you now more than ever.

Mr. Clark, let me start with a couple of clarifying questions that you haven't had an opportunity to put on the record and that I would like see put on the record. Did you have anything to do with the purchase of the new residence and the sale or disposition of the old residence?