Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Minister Day, for appearing today.
Minister Day, on Tuesday, both you and the Prime Minister expressed surprise at the reversal in testimony that was given by Commissioner Zaccardelli, but in fact, that was an act. On November 2, the government chair of this committee, your parliamentary secretary, and all members of this committee received a letter from Commissioner Zaccardelli explaining that he would make that contradiction. We asked questions about contradictions. In fact, as of September 28, I even called for his resignation based upon the testimony that was given at that time.
The reality is that you knew and you did nothing. You knew that you could have, at that stage in time, before it reached this crescendo of anger, before this public outpouring of rage, acted at that moment and did not.
It wasn't just the letter. There were a series of contradictions. You said you followed the testimony of this committee. Then you would have also known, Minister, that throughout the course of the testimony that was occurring there were all kinds of contradictions. Despite all that, you said that the government, you, and the Prime Minister had full confidence in the commissioner, even after the speech when the commissioner went public with what you knew last Monday. When the country was reeling in disbelief, you still expressed confidence in the commissioner. Perhaps today we start to learn why, and this leads to my question.
CP reports that—and I quote here—you had made a direct appeal to the Prime Minister at one cabinet meeting this fall, according to a government official. The quote is:
“Day asked straight out. He said, 'This is not right. Why is this man still here?'” one of the government sources said.
The prime minister avoided the subject.
“Harper just changed the channel. He said, 'Now, moving along to the next subject.'
“He just cut him dead.”
So my question to you is, did you push the Prime Minister for the commissioner to be released or fired? Yes or no?