Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 15th, 2014

[Thomas Mulcair]

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

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

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

[Thomas Mulcair]

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

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

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

[Thomas Mulcair]

—by the Conservatives by 8%—

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

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

[Thomas Mulcair]

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

[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?

[Thomas Mulcair]

I'm not sure I understand the question.

[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?

[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.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Is that a yes or a no?

[Thomas Mulcair]

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

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

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

[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—

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

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

[An hon. member]

A point of order, Mr. Chair—

[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.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

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

[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.

[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...?

[Thomas Mulcair]

That is exactly what we have said from the beginning.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Thank you.

But did you and your team—

[An hon. member]

A point of order—

[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.