Evidence of meeting #137 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was residence.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Thomas Clark  Consul General of Canada in New York, United States, Consulate General of Canada in New York
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Marc-Olivier Girard

Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON

Consul General, we know that within Parliament, our parliamentary colleagues have a wide range of views. In fact, in the official opposition, we have members there who are actually for Brexit. They're not free-traders. They don't believe in the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement. They don't believe in free trade agreements with Europe. We have seen some of those views come out in the last little while, and it's unfortunate, because we know that the Canadian economy is an open economy. We know that we prosper when we trade and create linkages. The attacks that we're seeing today on yourself and on our officials in terms of moving our relationship forward....

You mentioned the countries in Europe that have expanded their footprints in the United States. Look, we, as a country, sold our presence in London for some money, whether it was $100 million or $200 million at the time. If you go back to London, U.K., today, and that decision by the Harper government, that building is probably worth $1 billion or $1.5 billion in today's dollars. Much like the Conservatives have done here in the past in the province of Ontario with Highway 407, we see the same thing taking place with the Conservatives federally. They like to sell some Crown assets, take some money and then claim that they're good fiscal stewards, which is completely false.

1:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley

I need you to wrap up, Mr. Sorbara. You're past your time.

Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It was good to see everyone today. Mr. Chair, thank you for your time. I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday back in Ottawa.

Consul General, it's always a pleasure.

1:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley

Thanks, Mr. Sorbara.

Mr. Brock, please go ahead for five minutes.

Colleagues, we only have a couple more interventions, but I ask everyone to please watch the clocks.

1:35 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

Mr. Clark, I've listened very carefully to your testimony over the last approximately hour and a half. You've stated repeatedly on numerous occasions that you simply had no involvement in the real estate process. However, I'm sorry, Mr. Clark, because again, I have proof. I have more emails.

I'm referring now to an email that was sent to both you and your spouse on July 17, 2024, requesting permission to visit your official residence with the contracted appraiser. It says, “Please advise if the time works for you.” Your wife responded on the same date and said, “Yes, thanks.”

Then I also received a previous email indicating that the appraisers had been to your property the previous year, either in the spring or the early summer of 2023, when the events unfolded that we have asked you about. They visited your property on two occasions. You were part of that process, and your spouse was part of that process, which really puts a different spin on the position that you stated numerous times, which is that you simply had no involvement.

I want to go back to April 26, 2024, when you visited the penthouse—or the condominium, I should say; I apologize—on Billionaires' Row. Who showed you the property?

1:35 p.m.

Consul General of Canada in New York, United States, Consulate General of Canada in New York

Thomas Clark

Who showed me the property? It was the real estate agent—a couple of real estate agents—and I went with a couple of people from the mission.

1:35 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

Okay.

I'm sure that in your lifetime, Mr. Clark, you and your spouse have purchased property, personal property.

1:35 p.m.

Consul General of Canada in New York, United States, Consulate General of Canada in New York

Thomas Clark

We have.

Mr. Chair—

1:35 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

No, sir, this is my time.

September 12th, 2024 / 1:35 p.m.

Consul General of Canada in New York, United States, Consulate General of Canada in New York

Thomas Clark

—I am prepared to talk about this, but do not bring my wife into this.

1:35 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

Sir, this is my time. I'm asking you the questions. Thank you. I'm merely referring to an email.

Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON

I have a point of order, Chair.

1:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley

I'm sorry, Mr. Brock. We have a point of order.

Go ahead.

Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON

Whether this is a point of order or not, let's have some decorum. The consul general is here. It has nothing to do with his family, nothing at all. It's very bad.

Come on. Let's get better. We're better than that, guys.

1:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley

Thanks.

Continue, Mr. Brock.

1:35 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

Mr. Sorbara should review the material that his party has received, because clearly Mr. Clark's wife is referenced. She in fact identifies herself by her first name. I'm not making this up, Mr. Sorbara. It's in the documents.

Again, Mr. Clark, you've purchased property in the past, probably numerous times, with the assistance of real estate agents. They do their best to sell property to you and to highlight all the features of the property to you. Are you suggesting to Canadians that when you toured this Billionaires' Row condominium right in front of Central Park, they were completely muted, and you simply walked around aimlessly, looking at all the features and not asking any questions, and they did not highlight certain features to you? Is that what you want Canadians to believe, Mr. Clark—yes or no?

1:35 p.m.

Consul General of Canada in New York, United States, Consulate General of Canada in New York

1:35 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

Wow. Wow. You have found the most inept real estate agent in the entire world. That is fascinating, Mr. Clark.

Let me ask you this, Mr. Clark: Are you a golfer? Are you a golfer, sir?

1:35 p.m.

Consul General of Canada in New York, United States, Consulate General of Canada in New York

Thomas Clark

It depends on who you ask.

1:35 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

Okay. Are you a swimmer?

1:40 p.m.

Consul General of Canada in New York, United States, Consulate General of Canada in New York

Thomas Clark

It depends on who you ask.

1:40 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

Do you play pickleball?

1:40 p.m.

Consul General of Canada in New York, United States, Consulate General of Canada in New York

Thomas Clark

No. I don't even know what it is.

1:40 p.m.

Conservative

Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB

As a tennis player, I respect that.

1:40 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

You have two 25-metre swimming lanes in your new condominium. You have a golf simulator. It's every man's dream to have that. That's right in your building. You also have padel courts.

Now, was it a requirement to you, sir, in your role as the consul general for New York, to have the world's most expensive appliances? For instance, the stove alone—