Evidence of meeting #44 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was believe.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I'd like to call our meeting to order, please.
Our first hour of business today is still on the question of privilege relating to the premature disclosure of a document of the draft report of the pre-budget consultations of the finance committee. We have a witness for one hour on that and then we have other business.
Mr. Ullyatt, do you have an opening statement today?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Thank you for being here today. We will start then with your opening statement and then rounds of questioning.
Mr. Ullyatt, it's yours.
As an Individual
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This committee is well aware that on Thursday, November 18, 2010, I received by e-mail, along with all members and their staff of the finance committee, a first draft report of the finance committee prepared by committee staff. When I received the report that morning, I did not read it, but I did do two things. One, I printed a copy for Mrs. Block and placed it in a binder for her to review, and two, I e-mailed the reports to some friends of mine whose identities have since been made public.
As I have mentioned before, the moment I disclosed the document constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part, for which I am solely and completely responsible. I would, however, like to repeat that I did not photocopy the draft. I did not fax the draft. I did not discuss the content of the draft with anyone over the phone or in person.
I wish to again sincerely apologize to all members of the House for my action, especially members of the finance committee and this committee. I'm here at the request of the committee to answer additional questions you may have in regard to this incident, and I stand ready to answer your questions today.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As an Individual
Mr. Chair, I believe I have a copy of...another one of the members at the table...I was just given to briefly overview.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Ms. Foote, you're going to go first.
Let's start with a seven-minute round. Go ahead.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to begin by asking that we have our witness sworn in, please.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I don't believe committees have much choice. Part of our arrangement with the televising companies is that if they ask, they can come. As a committee, we can talk about that if you'd like. It is under our purview too.
As an Individual
I, Russell Ullyatt, do swear that the evidence I shall give in this examination shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Thank you very much, Madam Clerk.
Thank you, Mr. Ullyatt.
Ms. Foote, please go ahead.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ullyatt, for being here with us again to answer further questions that we have, many of which are emanating from the exchange of e-mails.
I'd like to start out by asking if you're still being advised by the Conservative Party lawyer, Paul Lepsoe.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
In reference to your e-mails, they show that you arranged a meeting at the lobby group Tactix to meet with Clarke Cross and Ian May on November 17. Was the purpose of this meeting to discuss your employment at this company?
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
May I then ask what the purpose of the meeting was?
As an Individual
Please forgive me, because it has been a little bit of time. I believe Mr. May is with a shipping coalition and the meeting was arranged so that I could better understand shipping issues as they relate to Mr. May's position.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Did you during that meeting discuss the finance committee hearing or the report with Mr. Cross and Mr. May?
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
At your prior appearance before this committee, when you were questioned about your report, you said, “My actions were spontaneous when I was doing it. This was not premeditated.” Yet in an e-mail that you provided to the committee by lobbyist Clarke Cross, from you, dated November 17, it shows that you told him that the report was coming out the next day, the 18th. So you had discussed it with this gentleman on the 17th and said you would send him a copy.
Why did you intentionally mislead the committee at your last appearance?
