Public Accounts Committee on Oct. 9th, 2024

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Pardon me. You have five minutes on the clock.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I have six minutes on the clock. They haven't allowed me to get a single question in.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Mr. Perkins, first of all you asked a couple of questions about—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I haven't asked anything.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

—Mr. Bains's role as a minister, what he's responsible for, etc. I'm not cutting you short. I just want you to know that you have just over five minutes on the clock.

The floor is yours, please, Mr. Perkins. Proceed.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Bains, when I ask you a yes-or-no question, I appreciate a yes or a no, not a rag the puck. Please answer yes or no with regard to whether you called Annette Verschuren two times, as she testified here at the committee.

[Navdeep Bains]

As I mentioned in my previous testimony, I was responsible for over 100 Governor in Council recommendations, and I don't recall specific—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

No, I do not need the list of appointments. Please answer the question, or I'm going to interrupt you constantly. Answer the question. Did you phone her twice? That was her testimony. Is she telling the truth?

[Navdeep Bains]

As I said, I don't recall any such conversations taking place.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Okay. She testified here that she was asked by you three times. Who told you to ask her?

[Navdeep Bains]

As I've said, in 2016 a new appointments process was introduced. It was open to all Canadians, and it's not uncommon for me as a minister or any minister—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I don't need a recitation of your opening statement again, Sergeant Schultz, saying, “I know nothing!”

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Look, I'll go on to the next question.

In 2016, did you appoint Andrée-Lise Méthot?

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. Maybe it's a point of clarification.

I believe the witness here today is Mr. Bains. I'm not sure who Sergeant Schultz is, or whoever this member is referring to. That's absolutely disrespectful.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

I agree.

Mr. Perkins, if you could refer to Mr. Bains as “the witness” or as “Mr. Bains”, it would be appreciated to maintain decorum in the committee.

Thank you.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Former Liberal minister Bains in charge of the Liberal green slush fund appointed Andrée-Lise Méthot in 2016 under a new and clean process. Is that correct?

[Navdeep Bains]

As I indicated in my opening remarks, my responsibility as a minister was to appoint seven out of the 15 board members.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

You appointed her, then. While she was on the board and while you were minister, $114 million of green slush fund money was voted to her companies. Also, you had an assistant deputy minister at every single meeting. Do you expect Canadians to believe that you knew nothing?

[Navdeep Bains]

Sustainable Development Technology Canada is an arm's-length organization. The management oversees the day-to-day operations, and there's a board that oversees management. Again, as I said in my—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

It's true. Cycle Capital, Andrée-Lise Méthot's company, also had a lobbyist for 10 years. His name was Steven Guilbeault. It still is Steven Guilbeault. He lobbied for 10 years, and $100 million during those 10 years went to Cycle Capital. He met 25 times with your office and you in the year before he was nominated. Do you remember any of those meetings?

[Navdeep Bains]

During my tenure as a minister, I met with a number of stakeholders from the clean-tech sector. I don't recall any specific meetings with the individuals you have mentioned.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

You don't remember meeting with the now radical Liberal environment minister, who was a nominated Liberal candidate. Then I will ask you once again—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Mr. Perkins, wait one second. Ms. Khalid has a point of order.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

I'm not sure why there is name-calling going on within our committee here.