Evidence of meeting #112 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was third.
A recording is available from Parliament.
7:05 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
You've never taken any speaking fees or anything like that.
7:05 p.m.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
When I say I'm not funded, I say that the work I have done I have never been paid to do. I did it starting in about 2006 and—
7:05 p.m.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
Please let me finish my sentence, sir.
I didn't do any speaking engagements until six years later, so by logic, my work was not funded by industry, seeing that most of it took place before I ever did any sort of speaking.
7:10 p.m.
NDP
7:10 p.m.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
You know, sir, in the last month I've spoken in Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Kitimat, in your riding, and in Victoria, and I haven't been paid for any of it.
7:10 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
It's okay to answer the question. If you've received speaking fees from the oil and gas sector and from the mining sector—
7:10 p.m.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
I'm happy to say it and I'm proud to say it.
7:10 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Okay. It just took a while to get there.
The question is did you worry about the $1.2 million that came from foreign fish farm companies to the B.C. government when it was run by Christy Clark?
7:10 p.m.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
Hang on a second here. We're here to talk about Bill C-76.
7:10 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Absolutely. We're talking about foreign influence.
You said that as a principle, you have a problem with foreign influence on Canadian political actors.
7:10 p.m.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
I think it should be disclosed. Even Leadnow is a progressive organization and as such, it has every right to be part of an international network.
7:10 p.m.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
What is not okay is for it to portray itself exclusively as a thoroughly Canadian youth-led movement when in fact there's more to it.
7:10 p.m.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
It's also part of a U.S. network of organizations that deliberately seek to swing elections.
7:10 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
So if I go to the website of the Fraser Institute, which portrays itself as a uniquely Canadian institution taking three-quarters of a million dollars from the Koch brothers who have expressly said they want more lenient oil and gas regulations in Canada, is that okay?
7:10 p.m.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
The Fraser Institute has disclosed its funding from the Koch brothers, and if Leadnow would do the same, I wouldn't have a problem with that either.
7:10 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Are you suggesting Leadnow doesn't disclose to CRA or to anyone else where their funding comes from?
7:10 p.m.
Researcher and Writer, As an Individual
They are not a registered charity and therefore they do not need to disclose that to the CRA.
7:10 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
So they don't disclose any of where their funding comes from?