Public Accounts Committee on Nov. 27th, 2024

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

You said H-E-L-L.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

You said H-E double hockey sticks.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll reflect on my language.

I think the point is made here that, according to the witness, Mr. McConnachie, in his true words, the minister is going to literally flip out—flip his head or flip out—and he probably did. He probably screamed and said—I'm not going to use the word again—“What is going on? How did this happen? Where was the oversight?”

We had Mr.... What was his name, the first guy?

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Do you mean Mr. Noseworthy?

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Yes.

We had Mr. Noseworthy with this incredible tale that, essentially, he was a fly on the wall, eating chicken wings and armed with the authority to provide government input. However, he also claimed that he never spoke. He was there, I guess, to be the eyes and the ears, to report back to Minister Champagne, and I'm sure he did.

Minister Champagne didn't care. They only care and they only show a modicum—I'm not even going to give him credit for a great deal but just a modicum—of concern when they are caught. That really has been the hallmark of this Justin Trudeau government, and that is pathetic because I thought, as many Canadians did in 2015, that he would be true to his word of being accountable, transparent and responsible, particularly responsible to the taxpayer.

How much more do Canadians have to put up with this absolute failure of a government, the deep rot, the corruption, the cover-up, the denial, the deflection of responsibility? There was a point in time in this country under previous Liberal administrations when there really was a Liberal Party of Canada, not the Justin Trudeau Party of Canada but the Liberal Party of Canada, where ministers believed in accountability. It has been the case with Conservative governments: ministers taking responsibility, ministers resigning voluntarily.

A case in point is former minister Randy Boissonnault, who just doubled down, tripled down and did whatever he could to give out this illusion that there was some other Randy when there was just an abundance of evidence to prove the opposite. It wasn't until various strong indigenous and first nations leaders across this country and organizations started to call out the repulsiveness of fake Randy's claiming indigenous and Métis status that the Prime Minister, the PMO and Katie Telford put the wheels in motion and came to this miraculous mutual understanding.

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order on relevance. I thought we were doing SDTC.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Oh, we are. I'm getting to it, Ms. Yip. I'm just getting started.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Mr. Brock, it's back to you.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

He came to this miraculous mutual understanding that he had to step down. But the day before, less than 24 hours prior to that, the Prime Minister, outside the country, was fully supportive. He was fully supportive of Randy Boissonnault, whose integrity and character and reputation have been shoved down the proverbial toilet.

That's what this government does. They don't believe in accountability. No minister believes in accountability. That's why we definitely need to hear from Minister Guilbeault. As I've raised numerous times in the House and at committee, just the potential, whether it's real or whether it's potential, a potential influence, a potential benefit.... He still has shares in Cycle Capital. To have a minister conduct himself in that fashion, advise Cycle Capital for as long as he did and maintain the shares, knowing full well that Cycle Capital breached significant ethical rules in stealing taxpayer money, essentially, by funnelling it into their coffers, that benefits Minister Guilbeault, he has a lot of questions to answer. It's no small surprise that he is denying a willingness and an invitation to attend committee. That's why we have to bring in an appropriate motion.

That's why I thought there was value and merit in Mr. Cooper's original motion that this ought to be reported to the House. This behaviour needs to be reported to the House, as I'm now reporting it to Canadians who are watching this. This will be shared, because they are accountable to Canadians. They may think they're accountable to themselves, or beholden to themselves, or beholden to Justin Trudeau, but we are all servants of the people. We are here because constituents in our ridings place their trust in us. When you breach that trust and you show disrespect to not only your constituents but also taxpayers, there has to be consequences. Those consequences start with answering allegations and making them available for us to pursue an investigation.

[A voice]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

At this point, I'm prepared, sir, to—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Give me one second, Mr. Brock. I'm getting some feedback from someone online.

I would ask everyone to please make sure their microphone is muted. We're hearing something.

Mr. Brock.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I'll cede the floor at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Thank you very much.

I'll just say a few things. I'll remind members that when an amendment to a motion is put forward—I checked with the clerk on this—I do begin a second list. I already have a half-dozen members.

I can put you on it as well, Madam Sinclair-Desgagné.

I am going to send up a first flare that I will shortly excuse our next witness—

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

Mr. Chair—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

I have a very long list here, Ms. Khalid, and unfortunately I must hear from all members. I will come back on that point shortly. In the meantime, Mr. Drouin has the floor, followed by Mr. Perkins, Mr. McCauley, Mr. Cooper and Ms. Khalid. On the original list, I have another half-dozen people. You're on that as well, as is Mr. Perkins.

Mr. Drouin, you have the floor, please.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

I've heard a former Crown prosecutor just discuss and make some fake linkages to evidence. I've also heard Frank Caputo make the same arguments. It's no wonder we have so many criminals out on bail if they were making the same arguments back then, when they were Crown prosecutors, in front of a judge.

What we're facing is a kangaroo court. One has to wonder how many more witnesses they want or if this is a fundraising exercise. I do respect the honourable member, but he talked about corruption and whatnot. Never in my nine years have I read any news headline that Mounties searched Liberal headquarters.

Maybe he wasn't paying attention back then, but I have a quote from April 15, 2008, about their beloved Stephen Harper—some of those members were advising Stephen Harper—that—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

I have a point of order, Chair, on relevance.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

—“Mounties search Tory headquarters.”

I know they don't want to hear that. They don't want to hear the truth, and I get it. They don't want to hear the truth.

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

Don't yell at the translators.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I understand that.

[An hon. member]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Look at the points of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

I have to address this.

Mr. Drouin has the floor.

Are you still...?

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I'm still going on.