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.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
So there was no discussion about workers in terms of what we purchased, in terms of investment.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
We're in 182 countries around the world. Union workers are not organized the same way. But I take your point. I think it's a fair point, and I'll follow up on that.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thanks very much. We'll go to Mrs. Kusie and then Mr. Sousa to finish off.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Good afternoon, Minister.
You said in your opening statement today that it was in the media that you learned about the $9-million condo purchase. How is it that you didn't know about this purchase before you yourself admitted to just learning about it from the media?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
Thank you, Stephanie. I'm happy to see you.
I know that you come from the diplomatic network of Canada, being the former consul in Dallas, and I know you trust Foreign Affairs to deal with important assets, which you had the chance to work in, in Argentina and Dallas. You know that the rules are always, under my watch at least, respected, and that was the case. We follow Treasury Board rules, as you did when you were former consul in Dallas.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Thank you for that response, Minister.
I still find it very shocking, as I think Canadians do, that you were made aware of this purchase through the media. Minister, how did you not know that the deputy chief of protocol in Global Affairs attended a Russian embassy party? How did you not know that?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
That's a fair point, and I was not happy about my team not informing me. I think I've said what I needed to say about that.
Since then, this is my question for you: Why would the Conservatives not support Ukraine in this decisive moment in the world while Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom, but also ours? I know as a diplomat you would know what that means.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
I appreciate your bringing up Ukraine, because my next question for you, Mélanie, is: How did you not know that Canada accepted an invitation to send a patrol ship to Cuba while the Russian navy was present? I think your point about Ukraine is a very good lead-in to this question. How did you not know that?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
This is a question you should ask the defence department and my dear colleague, who's doing a great job, Bill Blair. He's the minister who will see the doubling and nearly tripling of the defence budget under his watch and under our watch as government, while the Conservatives cut the defence department's budget five years in a row, and that's unfortunate.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
My point, Madam Minister, Mélanie, is that you have just indicated now three things that you did not know. You did not know that we had purchased a $9-million condo at a time when Canadians are suffering as a result of your government. You did not know that the deputy chief of protocol for Global Affairs Canada attended a Russian embassy party. You did not know that Canada accepted an invitation to send a patrol ship to Cuba while the Russian navy was present, despite your comments about Ukraine.
Minister Mélanie, I'm very concerned about your not knowing what is going on. Why are you so uninformed as to what goes on in your own department? Why do you not know?
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
These were not the answers I gave you, so of course, Stephanie, you can't say and use the prewritten questions you had.
Conservative
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
What I can tell you, what I know, is the investment in the U.S. is fundamental. You would agree because you used to work as a diplomat in the U.S., as a trade commissioner. I really thank you for your service to the country because I think it was important.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Thank you, Minister, but I maintain the position that you did not know those three things.
How did you find out about the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Did you know that?
Liberal
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
How did you find out about October 7? How were you made aware of that? Did you know that?
It's apparent—
November 5th, 2024 / 11:50 a.m.
Liberal
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Mr. Chair, I'm sure the member just doesn't notice, but she is yelling. Again, I just want to bring up concern for the interpreters.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
We've had this issue brought up before. If there are worries about the interpreters, they will contact the clerk to address it, so we don't need to do points of order on those.
Go ahead, Mrs. Kusie. The time is yours for one minute and 10 seconds.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Fortunately, it is apparent that you do know there is an election in the United States today as you indicated that in your opening statement. You spoke in your opening statement about how security is at a pivotal moment in the history of Canada and in the history of the world. Yet there is so much that you don't know.
I'm here to tell you today that Canadians expect you to know. If you hope to one day be the leader of the official opposition, Canadians will expect you to know, Madam Minister, Mélanie.
Liberal
Conservative
