I didn't ask you that.
Evidence of meeting #140 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 ouimet.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #140 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 ouimet.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
With due respect, Mr. Chair, the witness is not answering the question. I asked him if he said this, and he's going to what his investments were. I'll ask that question later.
Liberal
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
I would like the witness to answer the questions I'm asking.
Liberal
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
I respect the fact that Mr. Perkins wants to ask questions. I'll remind him that we have interpreters and if the witness is listening to the interpretation, it's really hard for those who are listening. It's hard on the ears of the interpreters.
Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you very much, Mr. Drouin.
Mr. Perkins, it is your time. The clock is still stopped.
Because of the two languages here, if you could, please endeavour to allow time for Mr. Ouimet to hear your comments, and vice versa.
You do have the floor. I hear your point. We're just getting started. There will be lots of opportunities to question the witnesses in many different directions.
I'm going to turn things back over to you. You have a minute and a half.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Mr. Ouimet, did you say you were going to join the board of Lithion since Annette Verschuren was the chair and conflicts were allowed, yes or no?
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
You're saying the CEO lied to the committee. Is that correct?
Corporate Director, As an Individual
I joined the board, but not because Annette Verschuren was there. I didn't know Annette Verschuren.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
You were already on the board. You went to the CEO. The CEO has testified that you said you would join the board of Lithion when Annette Verschuren came on board because conflicts were allowed. Did you say that, yes or no?
Conservative
Corporate Director, As an Individual
I said no. How many times do you need to hear “no”? The answer is no.
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
It's $11,000. In that time, while you were on the board, in early 2022, Lithion got $4 million from SDTC. Is that correct?
Corporate Director, As an Individual
Before my appointment, it had received $4 million.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
No. According to SDTC's records, it was in 2022 that it got $4 million. That's on their website. Are you saying that SDTC's website is wrong?
Corporate Director, As an Individual
No. There are nuances to be made, sir. The investment was approved in the summer of 2018, before my appointment. The sums were paid out progressively as the project was being carried out, but that was not done following decisions made by the board of directors at the time.