Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Schreiber Returns! Part VIII: Fellas, please! It's really hard to hear with all this Conservapoo flying around

Karlheinz Schreiber returned to the Commons Ethics committee on Tuesday--avec ses notes! As with last Thursday's proceedings, the following is NOT a transcript, so quote at your own risk ;) Time-stamps are approximate. This is the eighth and final Part of this series. You can return to the beginning of this 'series,' by clicking here: Part I.

Fellas, please! It's really hard to hear with all this Conservapoo flying around

Martin (NDP): If there's one thing that's been made clear today, it's that big money, corporate lobbyists in this country are the root of all evil...

***groans & chuckles***

Martin (NDP): ...well, what other conclusion can you draw? "They've been bastardizing democracy at the highest level for all this period of time and it's a normal way of doing business in some circles." Mr. Schreiber, were you aware that Frank Moores was on the Board of Directors of Air Canada at the same time he was lobbying for GCI purchase of those airplanes? Was it common knowledge?
Schreiber: "I think the appointment to Air Canada was a signal to the Europeans that Frank Moores was the right guy. BM supported all the business from GCI as far as I can see it"
Martin (NDP): the Airbus sale resulted in a huge commission to Moores and presumably, you benefitted.
Schreiber: yes
Martin (NDP): who else would Moores have shared that commission with? How did that money filter down?

Del Mastro (CPC): (asks for Point of Order) Mr. Schreiber can't possibly know what Moores did with the money...

***grumbling***

Szabo (chair, LPC): Order please! That's debate, Mr. Del Mastro. Mr. Martin, carry on...

***Del Mastro shouting***

Szabo (chair, LPC): Mr. Del Mastro, please...

Martin (NDP): (repeats his last question)
Schreiber: very obvious that the shareholders of GCI were entitled to participate in the commission. Very clear.
Martin (NDP): Public office holders?
Schreiber: I speak about shareholders--when you say how all this all works--I ask, if you come to this government, for e.g., this government does not approach you to come and "we help you"...assume if you were to come, to whom would you go?
Martin (NDP): I'd bring a suitcase full of cash, start sprinkling it around Ottawa...
Schreiber: Well, that'd be a big problem with the security guys. You would not get access immediately to the PMO or Ministers...No, you need a lobbyist, it's very clear. What do you think Fred Doucet's doing? (*snerk*) That's the way it is...

***Martin passes to Mulcair***

Mulcair (NDP): After the 13:05 time-stamp in the transcript of last Thursday's hearing, you said, "complete wrong understanding...I was in the middle to organize things and to watch the funds flow b/c we had somebody who stole the money" (from Schreiber's testimony). Can you elaborate?
Schreiber: Correct. Mr. Pelossi, the trustee, stole $1.2 Million and I had to sue him. Had to go back to clients and tell them, especially since I had recommended him as a trustee.
Mulcair (NDP): can Schreiber tell us when he was interviewed by the RCMP, by whom specifically, and with respect to what?
Schreiber: I was never interviewed by the RCMP about the Airbus thing.
Mulcair (NDP): (surprised) Never?
Schreiber: no
Mulcair (NDP): well, that's very important information. Back to last Thursday...other than the ones already spoken about, who has received money from you over the years? We have a list of 10 here.
Schreiber: didn't get this?
Mulcair (NDP): just after time-stamp 13:05 from last Thursday.
Schreiber: can you repeat?
Mulcair (NDP): who else did you give money to?
Schreiber: nobody. In Canada?
Mulcair (NDP): in Canada.
Schreiber: no.
Mulcair (NDP): no other politicians or officials?
Schreiber: no.

Hubbard (LPC): Harrington Lake has become important. In June 1993 you went in a car. Who sent the car?
Schreiber: BM sent it.
Hubbard (LPC): so, in last few days as PM, why do you think he could call you to Harrington Lake?
Schreiber: I thought I'd explained. Doucet had asked me if I'd be prepared to help BM b/c he's in financial trouble and then Doucet arranged for meeting. He said I'd get a call. I then got a call saying a limo would be coming to get me.
Hubbard (LPC): he saw you as a source of money. Later, in the affidavit, at a later time when BM was at the same residence (Harrington Lake), you were in certain difficulties with respect to remaining in Canada. You saw that in 2005, 2006, BM had come back on the scene, had a friendship with PM Harper, the two had success replacing the government and with that you decided to explain your situation w/BM that would be considered by Harper and that somehow the two of them could make a deal by which you could overcome some judicial problems and remain in Canada. Your impression?
Schreiber: I strongly believed that when the Cons came back to power in 2006 that they would now what I've been asking for, to track down the mess from "horrible Liberals," the vendetta, Mr. Mulroney and myself. (??) The problem was with them...they didn't call for an inquiry.
Hubbard (LPC): you were really disappointed in what you thought was your friend, Elmer MacKay. Yesterday, in the House of Commons, we heard Peter MacKay mislead us about his own age at the time he worked in Germany (for Thyssen). When you had a relationship with Elmer, and worked as an intermediary w/you and BM, and Harper...you felt you'd been really done in by your friend, yes?
Schreiber: yes.
Hubbard (LPC): and you hope that what we do, is obtain your version and show your side of the story?
Schreiber: and I recognize that all the scandals we had--Arar, Air India, and others--all arranged by Liberals. And I must say, incurred by Liberals and Gomery (??). When there's wrongdoing going on, clean it up! And I think that that would have been when you look at what Harper promised (accountability) and his "special prosecutors" etc...I believed that stuff b/c BM wanted to finance my lawsuit in Alberta--there are many other stories...(he's really rambling here!!!).

1:04 PM
Schreiber: Then I felt betrayed! Another huge lie! I'm not hesitant to tell you what I told Mr. Mulroney: I make it clear, "I was deeply embarrassed when people called you 'Lyin Brian.' Today, Mr. Mulroney, Brian, if the lie itself looks for a proper label, it will choose your face and your name!"
Szabo (chair, LPC): And on that note...we will have to conclude for today.

***grumbling*** (coming from Mr. Wallace, CPC)

Szabo (chair, LPC): Order! We advise you, Mr. Schreiber, that we'll need to see you again Dec 6, 11AM...

***grumbling*** (Wallace again)

Szabo (chair, LPC): Order! (to CPC) You know what, fellas? I'm trying to speak with the witness! (shooting daggers at CPC) Mr. Wallace, give me some latitude!
Wallace (CPC): can we see the witnesses (list)? Well, you're making the decisions on behalf of the whole cmte...
Szabo (chair, LPC): (pained look) Mr...we'll speak...we're going in-camera, Mr. Wallace. (now to Mr. Schreiber) Mr. Schreiber, we'll see you on Dec 6 and, b/c of the volume of docs, members will go in-camera to review them and determine how much time we need...we can give you a better timeline on Thursday.

***ADJOURNED***

Return to Part VII ("Mike Wallace plays Matlock"), or to Part I ("Canada, the Trojan Horse")
Photo Credit: Solarnavigator.net

No comments: