Karlheinz Schreiber appeared before the Commons Ethics committee on Thursday to testify about his dealings with Former PM Brian Mulroney. This is NOT a transcript, but I feel that it's important to archive them here for future reference...even if it's just my own ;) You can return to the beginning of this 'series,' by clicking here: Part I.
Part II: Deferred admission--does anybody here know teh rulez?
Thibault (LPC): (begins first round of 7 min questions directed at Mr. Schreiber) Did you enter an agreement in June 1993 while Brian Mulroney (BM) was still PM?
Schreiber: I won't answer.
***Szabo instructs Schreiber to respond with "defer" if he wishes to wait until he gets his documents before answering the question***
Thibault (LPC): did you give $100 000 to BM in Aug 1993, while he was still an MP?
Schreiber: defer
Thibault (LPC): did you attempt to make PM Stephen Harper aware of transactions and that some of these had taken place while BM was an elected official?
Schreiber: defer
Thibault (LPC): How many letters did you send to Stephen Harper?
Schreiber: defer
Martin (NDP): point of order?
Szabo (chair, LPC): Mr. Martin isn't signed-in...ok, now he's signed in.
Martin (NDP): Point of order...most recent ruling about just saying "defer" gives too much latitude to the witness. I believe that if the nature of the question requires documents, then it's ok for Mr. Schreiber to defer, but if it's obvious he *can* answer, then he shouldn't be allowed to defer. Can we consult with the Senior Law Clerk?
Szabo (chair, LPC): I think Mr. Schreiber understands distinction; I will allow members to ask for the *reason* of deferral.
Schreiber: I rest on my statement and I have nothing to say at this time.
Szabo (chair, LPC): is this a permanent silence?
Schreiber: there is a great ignorance of what the nature of my documents is...
Thibault (LPC): (returning to his 7min questions) What was the amount of payments made to BM and why were they made in cash?
Schreiber: rest on my statement.
Thibault (LPC): Did you provide funds to any other Canadians between 1980 and 2007, directly or indirectly, in Canada or abroad, to them personally or to a company they control?
Schreiber: rest on my statement.
Martin (NDP): point of order? I believe Mr. Schreiber is not being cooperative. Surely he can remember *if* he bribed somebody...
Szabo (chair, LPC): that is not a point of order, Mr. Martin. I share some of your concern, but I take him at his word that he'll return to this committee. I've been advised by Mr. Auger (the lawyer accompanying Schreiber to the cmte, in Greenspan's absence) that he is not familiar (Auger) with parliamentary cmte proceedings. We should meet with Mr. Auger and ensure that we don't have a repeat of this. If there's any question that's "fairly benign" I want a yes or no if you can, Mr. Schreiber.
Schreiber: 100% sir.
Thibault (LPC): (continuing with his 7min questions...makes small joke about getting interrupted by Martin's points of order) Mr. Schreiber, you said in the affidavit, "My first meeting in 1983...introduced Max Strauss to Brian Mulroney"
Schreiber: son of Premier Strauss and the chairman of Airbus
Thibault (LPC): what was the nature of the meeting btwn Strauss and BM?
Schreiber: defer
Thibault (LPC): Where did the meeting take place?
Schreiber: Here, in this building.
Thibault (LPC): Who else was there at that meeting?
Schreiber: myself.
Thibault (LPC): In fall 1983, you introduced Strauss, Strauss' son to BM...what was Strauss' business with Canada?
Schreiber: defer
***missed a question in here, as the proceedings went pretty fast***
Thibault (LPC): In Feb 1998 meeting with BM in Zurich, were you and BM alone?
Schreiber: Yes.
Thibault (LPC): Did Thyssen arrange this meeting in Zurich?
Schreiber: No.
Thibault (LPC): Mr. Doucet arranged it?
Schreiber: Yes.
Thibault (LPC): and who is Mr. Doucet? He's a lobbyist?
Schreiber: Yes.
Thibault (LPC): Elmer MacKay (father of Min. Defense, Peter MacKay) is head of the Thyssen project...Peter MacKay got a job with Thyssen in 1992?
Schreiber: defer
Coming up next: Part III ("And for 500K, he'll even wax your tank!"), or Return to Part I ("Going on their "willy nilly way"--the ghost of Eddy Greenspan")
Part II: Deferred admission--does anybody here know teh rulez?
Thibault (LPC): (begins first round of 7 min questions directed at Mr. Schreiber) Did you enter an agreement in June 1993 while Brian Mulroney (BM) was still PM?
Schreiber: I won't answer.
***Szabo instructs Schreiber to respond with "defer" if he wishes to wait until he gets his documents before answering the question***
Thibault (LPC): did you give $100 000 to BM in Aug 1993, while he was still an MP?
Schreiber: defer
Thibault (LPC): did you attempt to make PM Stephen Harper aware of transactions and that some of these had taken place while BM was an elected official?
Schreiber: defer
Thibault (LPC): How many letters did you send to Stephen Harper?
Schreiber: defer
Martin (NDP): point of order?
Szabo (chair, LPC): Mr. Martin isn't signed-in...ok, now he's signed in.
Martin (NDP): Point of order...most recent ruling about just saying "defer" gives too much latitude to the witness. I believe that if the nature of the question requires documents, then it's ok for Mr. Schreiber to defer, but if it's obvious he *can* answer, then he shouldn't be allowed to defer. Can we consult with the Senior Law Clerk?
Szabo (chair, LPC): I think Mr. Schreiber understands distinction; I will allow members to ask for the *reason* of deferral.
Schreiber: I rest on my statement and I have nothing to say at this time.
Szabo (chair, LPC): is this a permanent silence?
Schreiber: there is a great ignorance of what the nature of my documents is...
Thibault (LPC): (returning to his 7min questions) What was the amount of payments made to BM and why were they made in cash?
Schreiber: rest on my statement.
Thibault (LPC): Did you provide funds to any other Canadians between 1980 and 2007, directly or indirectly, in Canada or abroad, to them personally or to a company they control?
Schreiber: rest on my statement.
Martin (NDP): point of order? I believe Mr. Schreiber is not being cooperative. Surely he can remember *if* he bribed somebody...
Szabo (chair, LPC): that is not a point of order, Mr. Martin. I share some of your concern, but I take him at his word that he'll return to this committee. I've been advised by Mr. Auger (the lawyer accompanying Schreiber to the cmte, in Greenspan's absence) that he is not familiar (Auger) with parliamentary cmte proceedings. We should meet with Mr. Auger and ensure that we don't have a repeat of this. If there's any question that's "fairly benign" I want a yes or no if you can, Mr. Schreiber.
Schreiber: 100% sir.
Thibault (LPC): (continuing with his 7min questions...makes small joke about getting interrupted by Martin's points of order) Mr. Schreiber, you said in the affidavit, "My first meeting in 1983...introduced Max Strauss to Brian Mulroney"
Schreiber: son of Premier Strauss and the chairman of Airbus
Thibault (LPC): what was the nature of the meeting btwn Strauss and BM?
Schreiber: defer
Thibault (LPC): Where did the meeting take place?
Schreiber: Here, in this building.
Thibault (LPC): Who else was there at that meeting?
Schreiber: myself.
Thibault (LPC): In fall 1983, you introduced Strauss, Strauss' son to BM...what was Strauss' business with Canada?
Schreiber: defer
***missed a question in here, as the proceedings went pretty fast***
Thibault (LPC): In Feb 1998 meeting with BM in Zurich, were you and BM alone?
Schreiber: Yes.
Thibault (LPC): Did Thyssen arrange this meeting in Zurich?
Schreiber: No.
Thibault (LPC): Mr. Doucet arranged it?
Schreiber: Yes.
Thibault (LPC): and who is Mr. Doucet? He's a lobbyist?
Schreiber: Yes.
Thibault (LPC): Elmer MacKay (father of Min. Defense, Peter MacKay) is head of the Thyssen project...Peter MacKay got a job with Thyssen in 1992?
Schreiber: defer
Coming up next: Part III ("And for 500K, he'll even wax your tank!"), or Return to Part I ("Going on their "willy nilly way"--the ghost of Eddy Greenspan")
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