Evidence of meeting #153 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 businesses.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Tom Clark carries a lot of weight. He was chosen for a reason, and his position carries a lot of weight. Do you agree with that?
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I would agree that all heads of mission have an important status.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Right.
Tom Clark appeared at this committee September 12, 2024. I'm going to read out his words. He said:
Mr. Chair, I will repeat once again, and please, if you wish, you can put me under oath for this. I had nothing to do with the decision to sell the old [official residence]. I had nothing to do with the decision to buy the new OR. I had nothing to do with deciding on its amenities or its location.
Officials, we have two official documents from your department that say the contrary. The first was obtained through an ATIP. It says the consul general, in April 2023, two months after his appointment and shortly after his famous jovial ride in the limousine with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, informed ACM senior management, “that the property is not suitable for representational activities, and it is not suitable as a residence and requires immediate replacement.”
That follows up with an email from Emily Nicholson, which confirms that the consul general, Tom Clark, and his staff were “instrumental throughout this process, with [Tom Clark] providing the greenlight for the selection of the new residence.”
These are two official documents from your department that cast serious discrepancies on the veracity of Mr. Clark's statement. It's time for you to stop running cover for Tom Clark and to confirm, as you've already confirmed, that you've been in regular contact with his office and that he was indeed instrumental. He asked for an immediate replacement.
Both versions of the truth can't be right at the same time. Tom Clark has been lying to this committee and lying to the public, and you and other officials at GAC are covering up for this lie.
What do you have to say about that?
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify.
One comment that is being referred to in terms of Mr. Clark.... What Mr. Clark would have said is like third-hand information that would have been reported by his team to the project team that has—
Conservative
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
It's an acronym, a symbol, that we use in the department.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Okay.
He says that he informed ACM senior management. I want a list of everybody he spoke to. Can you give me some names right now?
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
The document says that ConGen informed ACM. ConGen is the mission, not the consul general himself, so the mission has reported that the official—
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
What were the names of the officials at GAC that ConGen reported to?
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
We are ACM here.
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Yes, it's both of us.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Will you table any and all documentation to this committee in relation to that level of communication in April 2023?
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I can go back and look at what exists, yes.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Okay, so we have you two individuals in person. We have one who's having difficulty connecting.
Was she also involved?
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
No, I wouldn't think so.
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Yes.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Okay.
What about senior management? Were they informed?
November 19th, 2024 / 12:40 p.m.
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
We did inform senior management, meaning the deputy minister associate, of the transaction on June 14.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Who in particular at the mission itself in New York City were you communicating with?
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
My interaction with the mission was through the head of administration.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Okay. I want names.
Can you identify all the names you were communicating with at the mission?
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Yes, I did provide the name at the last meeting. It would be the management consular officer.