Procedure and House Affairs Committee on March 18th, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Minister.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Thank you very much.

As I said, Mr. Chair, I have faith in the parliamentary procedure. I have come to this committee willingly, in full cooperation, and I would hope that I would receive a fair and balanced hearing here. I have come in good faith.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Will you support your comments with documentary evidence?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Allegations, name-calling, etc., are not what was asked of this committee.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

No. I am asking for documentary evidence.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

I would suggest to you that I've come with the facts. I've come with the truth.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

I am challenging the veracity of that truth, Mr. Chairman.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

In response to the question just posed to me, I would say to you that I have clearly stipulated, outlined, that this was used. Madam Biggs has indicated that it has been used. It was common practice between the agency and myself.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

If that's true, it's a hell of a way to run a business, Mr. Chairman.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, we are here to provide the truth and the facts. This is what we are doing.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

She's building the case that she's a lousy minister. That's if we're to believe her testimony.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you, Mr. Martin. Your time is up.

I'll go to Mr. McGuinty.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Madam Minister, I am going to ask you a couple of snap questions, and then I'm going to turn to Mrs. Biggs, if I might.

Can you just remind us, how many applications did you say you reviewed? Did I hear the number 760?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

I was informed by the department that I actually went through 758. I think that's the number.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Okay, 758.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

I'd have to look it up to double-check.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Terrific.

You're here today with your chief of staff and a phalanx of supporters. That's normal and I guess average procedure here in terms of your appearance.

The Conservative government, the Harper regime, is very effective at doing good research. I'd just like to follow up on Mr. Martin's question. Can you table, or can Mrs. Biggs table, a single other project funding application with the word “not” inserted? Of the 758 that you have approved or reviewed, can you please table today a single other instance?

Mrs. Biggs, in your recollection, since you're the head of CIDA, is there a single other instance where this has occurred?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Can I respond?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Please.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

And then I will let Ms. Biggs respond.

Mr. McGuinty, I'm here. I've given you the facts. I've explained the process.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

No doubt.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

I've described the format.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

No doubt.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

If you require additional...over and above what I say is the truth, with a description of the process, a description of the format, if you request that, I would say to you that we will fully cooperate.

I think, Mr. Chair, you have processes followed on documents, etc.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Through you, Mr. Chair, thank you very much.

I'll take that as “I don't know”, or you--