Government Operations Committee on Sept. 12th, 2024

[Thomas Clark]

As head of mission, I was aware that there was a process under way, but I was not part of that process. Nobody came in and talked to me about what they were looking at or the type of money they were talking about. The only thing I ever knew when I got toured.... I mean, I'm curious. I wanted to see what it was that they were looking at, having made the offer on it.

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

That's fair enough.

What I'm trying to get at is whether you were apprised that there was a process taking place. You've answered that, yes, you were aware that there was a process. When the appraiser showed up at the old residence and your wife gave them access, it wasn't a surprise to her, and it wasn't a surprise to you to find out that this had happened.

When were you first apprised of Global Affairs' intention to sell the old property and purchase a new property?

[Thomas Clark]

Allow me to look at my notes.

It would have been April 12 when they put that conditional offer in.

I want to make it very clear, and you're quite right: As head of mission, I was aware that there was a process going on. I was not part of that process, but I knew it was going on. I had no idea of timing or what they were looking at or anything. The only thing I knew about the process at the end was that this was going to return $7 million or more to Canadian taxpayers, which is why I thought it was a good idea.

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

You were first apprised of this process on April 12. Did this coincide with the date the offer was made on the new property?

[Thomas Clark]

I believe so.

It was simply that at that point, somebody, I believe, told me that they had put an offer in on this particular property.

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

That notification was made to you verbally. There's no documentation in which Global Affairs reaches out to you and says, ”By the way, we've put an offer in on this property.”

[Thomas Clark]

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks very much.

Thanks, Mr. Bachrach.

We now have Mr. Genuis and then Mr. Bains.

Go ahead, Mr. Genuis.

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

Mr. Clark, your story—which we don't believe—is that you were not involved in the purchase.

Once you saw the place, the amenities, the luxuries—you did tour it, after all—why didn't you say no? Why didn't you report back and say that it was way too much at a time when Canadians are struggling? You could have, at that point, said something to someone about this decision, and you didn't. Why did you choose not to, sir?

[Thomas Clark]

When they told me that we were giving $7 million back to Canadian taxpayers, I thought that was a pretty good deal.

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

Yes, but that's comparing apples to oranges. We've talked before about how absurd those numbers are.

Did they tell you those were the numbers at the time, sir?

[Thomas Clark]

Yes.

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

They told you in April.

[Thomas Clark]

Listen, it could be more than $7 million. It could be $8 million. It could be $12 million.

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

That's quite something, since the property wasn't listed for months and months afterwards. Your testimony today is that you were told at the time, in April, the magnitude of their estimated alleged savings. We'll probably want to follow up on that claim you just made.

Sir, I have a few more questions about your background.

Minister Joly has appointed you at least twice. The first time was when she was heritage minister, and then she appointed you again when she was foreign affairs minister. She first appointed you to chair an advisory committee to recommend appointments while she was Minister of Canadian Heritage, appointments that included the CBC. Is that correct?

[Thomas Clark]

That's right.

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

Okay. What was the period over which you held that position?

[Thomas Clark]

I think it was about four months.

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

Did you recommend the appointment of Catherine Tait?

[Thomas Clark]

I recommended two candidates, and the government chose.

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

Was she one of them?

[Thomas Clark]

Yes.

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

You were recommending candidates for the board of CBC as well. Did you recommend the appointment of Mr. Harley Finkelstein?

[Thomas Clark]

Yes.

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

Were any of your children employed by Mr. Finkelstein's company at the time you recommended the appointment?