Before I turn it back to Mr. Cooper for his remaining three minutes, I'm just going to update everyone, because I know there are some questions about timing with question period coming up in about 40 minutes.

It is my intention to have this done by two o'clock. We're going to finish this round, which includes Mr. Cooper's remaining time and then Ms. Yip. Then we'll do the fourth and final round, which takes about 25 minutes, at which point we'll end the meeting.

Colleagues, let me say as well that when we interrupt one another, not only does it make it hard on the interpreters, but it also is distracting to the witnesses as well and I think to our audience. We do rotate here. Yes, the witness has been asked some tough questions but has also been given additional time to speak in subsequent rounds. I think that has worked well. I'd ask that we all respect one another.

Mr. Cooper, we'll go back to you for three minutes, please.

1:16 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In the time that we've had, I have confirmed that you did testify that $10.7 million, not $10.4 million, went to four Cycle Capital companies while you served on the board.

I would draw your attention to section 12 of the Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology Act, which states:

no director shall profit or gain any income or acquire any property from the Foundation or its activities.

Isn't that precisely what happened when your Cycle Capital companies received $10.4 million from SDTC?

1:16 p.m.

Founder and managing partner, Cycle Capital Management, As an Individual

Andrée-Lise Méthot

Listen, I recused myself from those conversations. It was not $10.7 million, but in fact $10.4 million in four businesses over five years. I recused myself so that I would not be in the room. I therefore did not vote.

1:16 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Madam Méthot, with the greatest of respect, I didn't accuse you of not recusing yourself. I simply cited a section of the SDTC act that is very clear:

no director shall profit or gain any income or acquire any property from the Foundation or its activities.

Yet four Cycle Capital companies received $10.4 million. I would submit that this is in violation of the act.

Don't take my word for it. I would cite paragraph 6.47 of the Auditor General's report which states:

...for the duration of a director’s term, a director buying or selling securities of an ultimate recipient—or being compensated by, or holding an investment in, an ultimate recipient receiving funding—risks not following subsection 12(2) of the act.

Those are the findings of the Auditor General. Are you disputing the findings of the Auditor General?

1:20 p.m.

Founder and managing partner, Cycle Capital Management, As an Individual

Andrée-Lise Méthot

I followed the rules given to me as a member of the board of directors. I followed them to the letter. I am not a lawyer. I am an engineer, and I followed what I was told to do. If I should not have been appointed to the board of directors, Jim Balsillie would’ve had to refuse my appointment.

1:20 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Madam Méthot, did you read the act in the six years that you sat on the board? Did you bother to read the act?

1:20 p.m.

Founder and managing partner, Cycle Capital Management, As an Individual

Andrée-Lise Méthot

I sat on the board of directors for five and one-quarter years. When I started the position, I read the documentation. We were asked to report our conflicts of interest and recuse ourselves. That is how it was managed. That is the case in every company connected to the Canadian government, just as it is in every Canadian province. I followed the rules given to me.

1:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Williamson

Thank you very much.

Ms. Yip, you have the floor for five minutes.

October 28th, 2024 / 1:20 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

I am disappointed and disgusted by the Conservatives' behaviour and would ask that Mr. Cooper apologize.

As such, I'd like to move the following motion:

That the committee call for the member for St. Albert—Edmonton to apologize personally for his blatant defamatory accusation against Ms. Méthot.

1:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Williamson

Have you sent that to the clerk?

1:20 p.m.

Liberal

Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON

The member could just do it right now without there being a motion on the table.

1:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Williamson

I'm going to give a quick ruling on this, which can be accepted or challenged.

Ms. Yip, I'm going to rule this as out of order. Hear my reasoning before the challenge. You're welcome to bring it up at a later time.

The reason is, if we go down this path, I'm probably going to excuse Madam Méthot, and we'll bring her back at another time. I'm hoping we can deal with this.

1:20 p.m.

Liberal

Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON

Why would you do that?

1:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Williamson

I view it as tangential and not the matter at hand.

Mr. Drouin, you have the floor.

1:20 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Mr. Chair, you must know that there is ample precedent. I will ask you to go consult the last few months of proceedings at the Standing Committee on Official Languages, where you will find many examples of precedents.

Your party presented a motion very similar to mine about a witness. You say that the motion is out of order, but that is inconsistent, because the clerk gave the opinion to the chair that the motion was in order. We debated this motion for nearly two months. Suddenly, we are being told the motion is out of order. I’m having a problem with accepting this decision.

1:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Williamson

Mr. Drouin, you're welcome to challenge the chair.

1:20 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Exactly. I challenge the chair’s decision.

1:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Williamson

Very good.

(Ruling of the chair overturned: nays 5; yeas 4)

1:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Williamson

Very good.

Has the motion been sent to the clerk? It has.

Could the witness hold on for a bit?

The clerk will distribute it. I'll suspend and come back in two or three minutes.

1:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Williamson

I'm bringing the meeting back to order.

Ms. Yip, take the floor on your motion, please, and then I have Mr. Perkins and Mr. Drouin.

Ms. Yip, you have the floor.

1:25 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Should we wait until everybody is seated?

1:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Williamson

Ms. Méthot, could you wait for a few minutes, for the time it takes Ms. Yip to present the motion?

Then we will see how things go.

I'll get back to you. Give us just a few minutes. You're welcome to walk around the room, if you like, in the meantime.

Ms. Yip.

1:25 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

The motion is in response to the accusations that our witness, Ms. Méthot, is unwilling to co-operate with the RCMP. She has already stated that she is co-operative. I don't see why she has to go through the RCMP.

I think Mr. Cooper should be apologizing for his tone and tenure of attacking the witness.

We're waiting for him to apologize.

1:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Williamson

Thank you, Ms. Yip.

I have a speaking list that's ready to go.

Mr. Perkins, you have the floor.