Evidence of meeting #40 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Thomas Mulcair  Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

11:15 a.m.

Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

Thomas Mulcair

They knew that they were working in Montreal, and of course, it was paid—

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

Thank you. That's the answer to my question.

11:15 a.m.

Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

Thomas Mulcair

—out of the budgets that are consented to the leader of the official opposition, which, by the way, have been reduced—

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

Mr. Mulcair, did all of these Quebec MPs have a signed lease—

11:15 a.m.

Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

Thomas Mulcair

—by the Conservatives by 8%—

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

—in their name at 4428 Saint-Laurent Boulevard in Montreal?

11:15 a.m.

Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

Thomas Mulcair

—at the same time that the Prime Minister's budgets were being increased by 10%.

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

Did all of these Quebec MPs have a signed lease in their name at 4428 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Montreal?

11:15 a.m.

Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

Thomas Mulcair

I'm not sure I understand the question.

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

Did all of these MPs who hired employees to work at 4428 Saint-Laurent Boulevard have a signed lease in their name for that location?

11:15 a.m.

Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

Thomas Mulcair

Mr. Chair, the answer to that question is in the document I submitted today before the meeting started, as you requested in the House yesterday.

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

Is that a yes or a no?

11:15 a.m.

Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

Thomas Mulcair

You have the answer in the document I submitted, Mr. Chair.

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

I'd like your response today, Mr. Mulcair, if you're willing to answer questions.

11:15 a.m.

Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

Thomas Mulcair

The answer is that it never cost taxpayers a cent to lease that office. It was entirely paid for by the party. Here I have—

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

Were there signed leases by the MPs, Mr. Mulcair?

11:15 a.m.

An hon. member

A point of order, Mr. Chair—

11:15 a.m.

Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

Thomas Mulcair

Mr. Chair, the answer is obvious. It is in the lease that I submitted to you today. My colleague is well aware of the answer to his question. I am prepared to table all the cheques if that can be of help to him. Even if that is not necessary, I am inclined to submit all the cheques the New Democratic Party has signed to prove that not a single cent of taxpayer money was used to lease that office.

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

That's not my question, but I think the witness knows that. I'm going to ask—

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joe Preston

Mr. Woodworth, if I can help clear this just a little....

Before the start of the meeting today, I was shown a copy of the lease in one language, and some other documents in the other official language. Therefore, they cannot be distributed, and that's why Mr. Mulcair is talking about a document delivered today, but the committee is yet to be able to see it.

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

Gentlemen, in any event, whoever has the base lease, it does not preclude members of Parliament from having subleases. But I'm going to take the witness as saying that members of Parliament did not have signed leases in their names at 4428 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Montreal.

I'm going to ask my next question.

Mr. Mulcair, you've been quoted as saying that you and your MPs were completely respectful of all the rules while you were sending House of Commons paid staff to 4428 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Montreal, and you have confirmed that today, too. Yes or no...?

11:15 a.m.

Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

Thomas Mulcair

That is exactly what we have said from the beginning.

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

Thank you.

But did you and your team—

11:15 a.m.

An hon. member

A point of order—

11:15 a.m.

Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP

Thomas Mulcair

We know the rules and we discussed the matter at every stage with the House of Commons people responsible for pay and benefits.