Evidence of meeting #151 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 know.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Yes, and your time is up.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
This is flagrant malpractice for you as a minister—
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
—to completely ignore—
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
I'm sorry; I understand you're in the same party, folks, but at the same time—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
I'm going to interrupt everyone here. I have the floor.
There are a couple of things. It is a tradition in this committee that we use our last names, kind of as a sign of respect, but it is the member's time. You will have, I'm sure, an opportunity to perhaps get some of your points across to other questions, but it is the member's time.
We would ask that you allow Mr. Barrett to speak and provide answers.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
How much time do I have left?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
We're at 3:44 p.m., so you have two minutes and 15 seconds, Mr. Barrett.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Minister, in the June 17 memo to your chief of staff, it says that Tom Clark approved the $9-million condo, and it was instrumental in the purchase. With hindsight, do you wish that your chief of staff had gotten your personal sign-off on this, if you claim you did not, in fact, know about it?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
Michael, no. Why? Because you have already asked me the question, and I've already answered. This was a decision that, according to Treasury Board rules, had to go through the department and, therefore, there was no political involvement.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
These are Treasury Board rules that your government changed. Of course, you raised the limit just in time to buy this luxury condo for Justin Trudeau's buddy Tom Clark.
Liberal
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Right. Your cabinet made the change, Minister. You're the one who made the change, just in time to to be able to make this purchase so that you could say that you didn't hear anything and you didn't say anything.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
How many heads of mission have been, quote, “instrumental” in purchasing luxury condos?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
This is a decision that is always taken by the department. I know you've been doing character assassinations against Tom Clark. That's really sad, because when you don't have your facts straight, usually what you do is resort to personal attacks.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
What's really sad, Minister, is that Canadians are struggling just to get by, are lined up at food banks in record numbers, and you seem to have checked out on any accountability that you should be exercising in your role as minister. We see that, instead of helping Canadians, you're helping well-connected Liberal insiders.
I think I have just about a minute left, and I have to know. The claim from your officials was that this was going to be a great deal. Canadians were going to save all kinds of money, and they had sold the previous condo. We heard that this was the case.
Could you tell Canadians now how much the cheque was for that the Receiver General received for the sale of the former residence that justified the purchase of this $9-million dollar condo? How much did you sell the previous residence for?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
We are convinced we'll make sure that we have $7 million back for Canadian taxpayers. I think it is a good value-for-money transaction. It is a transaction that is well-supported—
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
The answer, Minister, is—
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
—you haven't received a cheque—
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
You've spoken for a long time. It's not a question. It's a rant—