Evidence of meeting #45 for Public Safety and National Security in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was summit.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
With regard to that, we looked through a variety of pictures of basic armaments that police officers usually carry and pointed at that one specifically that--
December 6th, 2010 / 4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
I looked through it, yes, to identify the weapon that was pointed in my face. To be honest with you, I do not know what it was called, aside from looking at a picture of it and recognizing it.
Conservative
External Coordinator, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
We could definitely clarify it as being a large gun.
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
A large gun I might accept. An M-32 six-shot 40 millimetre launcher with riot-suppressive ammo seems like a pretty specific description, but that's fine.
You flew all night to get there. You left Kelowna at 8 o'clock, flew to Vancouver, and then boarded a plane from Vancouver at 11:38?
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
Yes, that's correct.
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
Your student union was paying for this trip, correct?
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
Yes. That's correct.
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
So I'm curious. Since the University of Toronto gymnasium wasn't available for boarding until days or possibly a week before the commencement of the summit, did you have arrangements to stay someplace else?
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
No. We had previously been in discussions with members of the GSU, the Graduate Students' Union, at a national meeting of the Canadian Federation of Students, and it wasn't until about a week before the summit that Kirk and I were nominated to go on behalf.... In our mandate with the students' union at my local, it is within our mandate to stand up for the right to public education and to speak out with regard to public education and the access to it. So with our mandate, we thought it was more than necessary for us to go and speak out.
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
So you made these arrangements to travel to Toronto a week before the commencement of the summit?
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
That is correct.
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
That's outside the normal academic year. Does your council even meet in the month of June?
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
Some board members actually have leaves of absence during the summer, but we hold regular executive meetings throughout the summer and we stay in office throughout the year. Kirk and I hold an average of 30 to 40 hours a week during the summer, so yes, there were board meetings.
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
So you're telling me that your itinerary included a stay at the University of Toronto graduate students' gym? That was always the plan?
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
That was the plan, yes.
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
Okay. So you get in at 7:30 in the morning Toronto time, you go to the University of Toronto and you're immediately arrested, correct?
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
We were approached by police, I guess you would say, and then illegally searched. From my discussions with lawyers afterwards, my lawyer informed me I had been illegally searched. At the time, I had no idea.
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
Okay. And then you drop off your suitcases and you go to a rally, correct?
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
Actually, we got Gatorades because we hadn't had anything to drink, and then had about a two-hour nap. So it was about 10 o'clock in the morning that we went to meet at the rally point where the Canadian Federation of Students--
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
According to your brief, the rally commenced at 11 and didn't end until 5 p.m.
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
That is correct.
Conservative
Executive Chair, Student Union of the University of British Columbia Okanagan
I guess I'll let Kirk....