Evidence of meeting #132 for Justice and Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cabinet.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
Then she could have declined the offer of the seat.
1:20 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Wernick, can you tell me whether, prior to your testimony this morning, you discussed with one of the members of this committee the content of your testimony?
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
No.
1:20 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
None of us, ever, had discussed your testimony with you before you sat down in this chair?
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
No, aside from a joke at the café, absolutely not.
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
I have not discussed my testimony with anyone, with the exception of a lawyer from the Department of Justice.
1:20 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Okay.
Do you know why the former Minister of Justice was transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs?
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
That will get into the logic of a cabinet shuffle.
I don't think this is a big secret. The resignation of Scott Brison created a vacancy at Treasury Board. The problem that was presented to the Prime Minister was to replace the President of the Treasury Board, maintain a Nova Scotia person in cabinet and maintain gender balance. Those were the deliberations that took place in the first week of January.
1:20 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you.
Have you had discussions with Ms. Wilson-Raybould after she was transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs? Have you talked to her about her transfer?
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
I was at the swearing-in ceremony. I am in the swearing-in photograph. That was not raised then. She attended the ministerial retreat in Sherbrooke for three days. She did not raise the issue with me or with the Prime Minister.
1:20 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
That has not been done in any circumstances following her transfer?
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
She participated in other meetings of the cabinet and did not raise the issue with me or—
1:20 p.m.
Bloc
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
No.
1:20 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
You are very close to her. Earlier, you told us that you held a position for eight years where you were close to her, before she became Minister of Justice. I don't remember which position exactly you held then.
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
Yes, I have known her for about 13 years.
1:20 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
And under no circumstances, after her transfer, has she talked to you about it?
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
Talked about what?
1:20 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
About her transfer from the position of Attorney General and Minister of Justice to that of Minister of Veterans Affairs.
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
No. I think the only communication she has had was the letter she sent to her former employees from the Department of Justice.
1:20 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Okay.
I have one last question, Mr. Wernick.
Were you aware of any discussions between the Prime Minister's Office and the Government of Quebec concerning potential remediation agreements that could interfere in the SNC-Lavalin file?
1:20 p.m.
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
No, I have had no knowledge of such.
