Evidence of meeting #112 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was service.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
You did, Minister. Not only did Navis Group lobby your department—
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
Mr. Chair, if there was a contravention of the Conflict of Interest Act—
Conservative
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
—the conflict of interest office would have said that.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
—to Navis's client. You furthered your business partner's interests in delivering funding—
Liberal
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
—for their client, and you furthered your own interests because you were being paid by Navis.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Mr. Cooper, bring yourself to relevance to the matter. You know the rules of the House, honourable member. The constant attacks that you've been displaying in questioning another member, remarks that question the member's integrity, are not in order. Again, we're here to discuss the supplementary estimates, which you have not questioned anything on at this point, but it's your time. You have another minute and a half.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, you know what that's called? It's called a blatant conflict of interest—
Liberal
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
—and it's also called self-dealing and corruption. That's what it's called, Minister.
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner's office indicated in the article that I followed all the rules.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
I'm going to ask you this question. Since you're not interested in answering many questions here, I'm going to ask you this—
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
Have you read the article, Mr. Cooper?
Let me ask you this: Do you hang out with lobbyists—
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
You're going to answer my questions. I'll ask you questions. You're here to answer questions.
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
—at your weekly meetings with Jenni Byrne? Is that how you spend your time on Wednesdays—hanging out with a lobbyist at your own caucus meetings?
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
You're here to answer questions, Minister.
Minister, why did you not make a public—
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
It's pretty easy to talk to Jenni about Loblaws, isn't it?
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Why did you not make a public declaration of recusal from the activities connected to Ms. Poon's lobbying efforts in relation to the Edmonton International Airport?
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
Mr. Cooper, I followed all the rules and sought advice from the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner's team to set up my life transition from private life to public life. I followed all the rules. It's even in the articles. There is no contravention of the Conflict of Interest Act, and that has been stated by the conflict of interest and ethics team.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Your time is gone.
We will move to Mr. Long for six minutes.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Thank you, Chair.
Good afternoon to my colleagues.
Minister, thank you so much for coming before HUMA. It's appreciated.
I want to talk about the work we are doing to strengthen the EI system, but we're hearing opposite of course a lot of innuendo from the Conservatives about you. That's unfortunate, given the important mandate of the committee and the important issues you raised in your opening statement.
With respect, my friends across don't really care to talk about the workforce of tomorrow or skills training or, as I said a second ago, the important work we're doing on EI. I do want to talk to you about those matters, but I do want to give you the floor, Minister. I think it's only fair that you have an opportunity to once and for all clear the air about the innuendo, and I won't interrupt you.
Minister, the floor is yours. Thank you.
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
Thanks very much, Mr. Long. I appreciate it.
Despite innuendo to the contrary around this table and in the Global articles, I've always followed the strict ethics rules that apply to me as a minister. Those people who have read them know that's confirmed by the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner in the articles in question.
I think I can be even more clear: I've always met my obligations under the Conflict of Interest Act and worked with the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner to ensure that my business arrangements have followed all the rules.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
I want to jump in quickly.
For the record, you have worked with the Conflict of Interest—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Honourable member, let's bring the questioning back to relevance. We're here on the supplementary estimates (C). Going forward I will hold everybody to questioning on the supplementary estimates.