Evidence of meeting #55 for Public Accounts in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was contracts.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:55 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Public Works and Government Services Canada
Yes—There, you get that whole thing about whether he knew and whether he stopped the investigation, and so on.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
Moving on to Mr. Smith, I'd like just a quick clarification. The translation I heard when you were doing your opening statement or in one of the answers to questions was that you said your mother and Mr. Brazeau's mother were sisters.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
Just in a quick answer, yes or no, to a question that was danced around earlier, did you ever have a conversation with any minister at any time before or after your election regarding Abotech's arrangements with CAC?
5:55 p.m.
As an Individual
Do you want an explanation? The moment that Daniel LeBlanc, the journalist from the Globe and Mail, phoned me—I was sitting in the House and I went to the phone. I was advised there was an article that was going to come out on the contracts at CAC.
At that moment, I phoned the Ethics Commissioner to request an audit on it immediately.
I advised Jean Lapierre at that moment.
5:55 p.m.
As an Individual
That was the day that Daniel LeBlanc phoned, the journalist with the Globe and Mail.
5:55 p.m.
As an Individual
It was the day the article came out. I was advised the night before.
5:55 p.m.
As an Individual
I'm sorry, I don't remember the date the article came out, sir—
5:55 p.m.
As an Individual
—but it's public information. A search would be easy, to get the exact date, sir.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, this is important chronological information. I'm not aware of this particular article. It might not be hard to find, but there might be more than one. If the witness could just narrow down that date or at least the timeframe, it would be helpful to this committee; otherwise, we as a committee will be left with incomplete information.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Was there just the one article, Mr. Smith? Was there only the one article that you recall?
5:55 p.m.
As an Individual
Absolutely, sir, and I could get back to the committee with this information, if that's your desire.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
To assist the committee, why don't you try to get back to the committee and give us your evidence as to what date, to the best of your recollection, you would have received the call from Mr. LeBlanc and the day you called the Ethics Commissioner and the day you called Mr. Lapierre? I'm sure the Ethics Commissioner probably would have a record of it, if you needed any verification.
6 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Public Works and Government Services Canada
We happen to have an annotation on the date of that article, if it's helpful.
It's an article on July 4 in the Globe and Mail and the Sun chain, and again on July 18 in the Winnipeg Free Press there were articles on this subject.