Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Dec. 14th, 2010

[Howard Mains]

I'd like to also state that on the Friday when we found out and determined—

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Please answer the question. Did you contact Ms. Block and say “this has happened from your office”?

[Howard Mains]

I think that's one of the things we're all learning here, and with the benefit of hindsight that—

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Mains, would you be kind enough to answer the very quick question I've asked you?

[Howard Mains]

I did not contact her.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Thank you.

Mr. Egan, did you?

[Timothy Egan]

I didn't solicit, receive, or read the report. I had no idea that an attempted sending to me of a privileged document had occurred. Therefore, there would be no reason for me to contact Ms. Block.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

This is totally mysterious, Mr. Chair, because Ms. Block found this out the next morning, at 7:30, but it was none of these people.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Mr. Proulx.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

We're back for...?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

It's for five-minute rounds, please.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Thank you.

Ms. Hamilton, your co-worker Daniel Dufort has just started work with the PMO, the Prime Minister's Office, as an adviser to the Prime Minister. You shared almost all the same files with Mr. Dufort. Did you discuss this leaked report with Mr. Dufort or anybody else within the Prime Minister's Office?

[Lynne Hamilton]

I did not.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Why did you not?

[Lynne Hamilton]

I did not.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Will you hire Mr. Ullyatt?

[Lynne Hamilton]

Mr. Ullyatt is a designated public office holder and therefore couldn't work for a firm like mine.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

He has applied.

[Lynne Hamilton]

Not to my knowledge.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

I see.

Mr. Cross, will you hire him?

[Clarke Cross]

I'm not in the position to make decisions on hiring staff in our office.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Thank you.

Mr. Mains, would you hire him?

[Howard Mains]

We hire people on the basis of understanding where they're coming from and on judgment. And I can assure you that at about 12:46 p.m. on Thursday, November 18—

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

You had made up your mind.

[Howard Mains]

—I had made up my mind, sir.