Evidence of meeting #109 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was dalian.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
You ran for the People's Party of Canada in recognition of your indigenous ancestry. Is that correct?
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
I'm definitely getting to my “why”, for sure, and that is that my entire family has been enfranchised, and I am caught up in the second gen cut-off rule. This is a politically genocidal article out of Bill C-31 that is still in the Indian Act today, and my entire family is caught up in it. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians are caught up in it.
My “why” as to why I wanted to get back in as a member of Parliament was to create a private member's bill that would allow that part of the Indian Act to be solved once and for all, which would not only help me but help hundreds of thousands of Canadians.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you.
That is your time, Mrs. Shanahan.
It is now over to Ms. Sinclair‑Desgagné for two and a half minutes.
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Yeo, you previously stated that you had put the shares of your company into a blind trust, and you just said so again today.
Did you inform your team or your support staff that you were doing that?
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
The team at Dalian is definitely aware that we are going through this process, yes.
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
Did those people understand that signing an agreement was the same as giving approval? With your signature on it, it was now your responsibility. However, if you were no longer supposed to be involved in Dalian business, you weren't supposed to be signing anything. That is just elementary.
By the way, who was the person who put your signature to things on your behalf without your knowledge?
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
It would have been my staff that I directed. This is definitely on me. I would have directed my staff. I did direct my staff to.... While I was in this area of being able to work with the department and also put everything into a blind trust, I gave them the authority to go ahead and make sure. I trusted them.
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
Earlier, you said that Dalian had only two employees, you and your partner. Who are you referring to when you talk about staff?
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
That's kind of where there's a misinterpretation of that.
We have two people on staff as far as our full-time employment is concerned, but we have a shared services model with Coradix that allows us to work with the CFO, HR, operations etc. It's been like that for 20 years.
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
It was someone at Coradix who put your signature to documents without your consent, when you had asked that the shares of the company be placed in a blind trust. Is that correct?
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
Who signed your name on your behalf without your consent?
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
No, it was one of my members of staff to whom I gave the authority to use my signature while I was at DND.
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
Okay, but you just answered that it was someone at Coradix.
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
You say that Dalian is made up of you and your partner. Was it your partner who signed your name without your consent? Why didn't he just sign, if he co‑owns the company?
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
He's not an owner. He is a member of my staff. I gave him the authority to use my signature while I was at DND.
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
If I understand correctly, you are the sole owner of Dalian and you have no partner.
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
I have Coradix as a partner, yes, as a minority shareholder.
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
Okay.
Can you give me the name of the person who put your signature to things and failed to inform you that they were signing contracts on your behalf?
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
I gave them the authority to use my signature.
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
Yes, the member of my staff that I gave my authority to is Kyle Dixon.
I'm at a point right now where you have to understand that I'm trying to help you get to where you need to go and give you the answers that you need. If you want people's names in my staff, I'll give you all of the names of my staff.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Your time is up, Ms. Sinclair‑Desgagné. Thank you.
Mr. Desjarlais, you have the floor for two and half minutes, please.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
At the very beginning, Mr. Yeo, you mentioned that you were hired on September 29, 2023, so why did Corporations Canada have you listed as a director until March 2024?