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

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

I would debate that with you if we had more time.

You said you knew it was confidential. You knew what that meant. You've been in the industry long enough to understand the implications of taking a confidential document, yet you still forwarded it on to clients. Not only did you not inform someone on the government side that you had received this document, but after understanding the severity of the actions of Ms. Block's employee in sending you the confidential information, you also went the extra yard and forwarded it to two of your clients.

[Clarke Cross]

If I could correct, Mr. Chair, I did not forward the report in whole or in part. Moreover, I provided a summation of two points contained within the document, which I acknowledge is confidential, to one client.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

All right, it was to one client, but you provided information that was contained in the confidential report to a client.

[Clarke Cross]

Yes, I did, and I wish to apologize to all members of this committee, all members of the finance committee, and all parliamentarians for my lapse in judgment at a critical time.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

I find that astounding.

Are we out of time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Time is very short.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Is it your and your firm's normal practice to forward confidential information, or portions of that information, and also to not inform the government or the person who leaked the information that you were in receipt of it?

[Clarke Cross]

Actually, I have never received any confidential report of Parliament like this in my career.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

You mean prior to this, except for this one.

[Clarke Cross]

That's correct. This is a precedent.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Go ahead, Madame DeBellefeuille.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for coming.

Ms. Hamilton, you even used Mr. Ullyatt's first name. I imagine that your friendship with Mr. Ullyatt did not begin yesterday. When you address by his first name an assistant of an MP from the party in power who is also a member of the finance committee...

Are you getting the interpretation, Ms. Hamilton? It is practical for lobbyists in Canada to be fluent in both official languages.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I'll start you over.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

All right, let us start again from the beginning.

Ms. Hamilton, you told us earlier that you had received an email from Russell, your friend. When you personally know, on a first-name basis, the parliamentary assistant of an MP from the governing party who sits on the finance committee, it indicates a friendship that did not begin just yesterday. How many years has your friendship with Mr. Russell lasted?

[Lynne Hamilton]

I've known Russell since 2005, I think.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Therefore, because you are friends, did it seem normal to you, or were you expecting to receive some privileged information from the office where your friend works? We do not need to ask; if you are that close, you might even receive it without asking for it.

[Lynne Hamilton]

No, I've never received confidential information from friends or others.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

You said that as a lobbyist, you have never received any draft reports, any confidential documents from Mr. Ullyatt. Was that the first time?

[Lynne Hamilton]

That is correct.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

You also said that because of your family obligations, you had not read through to the end of this email where it said that it was a confidential document. The fact remains that on the main page of the email it is clearly written that the document is confidential and that it must not be circulated. Now you are telling us that you did not read this warning message when you received the email from your friend.

[Lynne Hamilton]

I saw it on my BlackBerry at 8:37 in the morning. I quickly clicked on it. I was putting the kids on the bus. I knew it was from Russell. I didn't think it was urgent. I didn't respond. I got in the car and I got to work.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Cross, we read in the newspapers that you have worked for two Conservative MPs on Parliament Hill. Is this true?

[Clarke Cross]

That is correct.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

It seems quite practical for a lobbyist to stay close to assistants or MPs working on Parliament Hill.

Up to this day, have you ever received, Mr. Cross, a confidential document from an MP's office?

[Clarke Cross]

Mr. Chair, I want to be very clear on this point. I have never received a confidential report of Parliament prior to this incident.