1/ Live Thread of this extraordinary event.#CdnPoli #CanPoli
-
31/ The Liberals again don't ask any questions in this round. Gross…
CPC MP Garrett Genius: Asking about a text message published in a news article.
Firth: I cannot remember.
MP: Will he tell the truth?
Firth: I did not remember that text or article.... he then asks if he is required to provide information to the House after this hearing as just asked.
The Speaker consults…
Speaker: The matter will go to a committee.
MP: Will Firth provide info.
Firth: Yes I will.
-
-
33/ Bloc MP Alain Therrien
MP: He said earlier that he paid for restaurants… after contracts were awarded. Is that true.
Firth: Yes. You want to have a relationship with clients.
MP: A public servant is the client.
Firth: correct.
MP: Is it possible that when you give a gift after a contract, it is before another contract.
Firth: Not necessarily for me.
-
34/NDP MP Peter Julian, speaking in French for some reason?
MP: Do you regret not answering truthfully.
Firth: yes I do.
Julian: Did you meet with any MPs, outside of Committee or have any private conversations.
Firth: No.
MP: Is firth saying he did not influence the contract or to the scandal at all.
Firth: I had no influence.
-
35/ For the first and only time: Green MP Elizabeth May
May: Will he provide to the House all web domain names he has registered.
Firth: Yes.
May: Is Firth acknowledging admitting that he is being deliberately dishonest.
Firth: They were mistakes. They were not deliberately misleading.
May: On behalf of the People of Canada. Is he a member of, donate to, or curry favour with any political party.
Firth: No I have not.
-
@chris Chris - you're giving the best play by play of a historic moment in Canada - over 100 years since someone is called to the bar at the house to answer questions, a rare sign of accountability in government.
-
-
-
@leanlearnlead Thanks David. That's an nice thing to say and I am glad to live in a time, 100 years later, that we can do this! I will defer, however, to Hansard, as the gold standard.
cc: @stephanie
-
@chris You did do an amazing play by play, which is very hard. Good summary for anyone who doesn't have the time to read the entire thing
@leanlearnlead -
-
@stephanie @leanlearnlead Thanks Stéphanie! Did you get to do any of the translating?
-
@chris I'm just starting my evening now, I'll tell you later when I'm further than 2:30 pm debates lol
@leanlearnlead -
@chris So far, I'm only translating PP and Trudeau fighting
-
@stephanie @chris No escaping the news for you Stephanie, condolences.
-
@PatrickoftheG @chris I'll take it before translating other meeting minutes that no one will ever read lol
-
@chris Really appreciate your play by play here. I don't understand why they can't have someone live post like this. Reach more Canadians.
That said, this sound like little more than the pursuit of sound bytes. The only thing they're interested in is covering their own asses and appealing to their bases. That's not accountability.
The fact the guy isn't ashamed and doesn't see what he did as wrong is all I need to know.
It's all performative.
-
@stephanie oh gawd. the horrors
-
@kevinlovestech some of it was certainly performative as is often the case in the House but I do do also believe it is very useful to the Canadian public that this was done in the House where it would get far more coverage than in Committee. There were a number of questions, and answers, that were quite enlightening. The fact the Liberals tried to make up an excuse for him not to appear and then asked no questions of him was important. And May's final question was something every Canadian deserved to hear and know. This is a scandal and the revelations should lead to changes.
-
@chris Oh yikes haha
"Mr. Speaker, again, acknowledging the fact that I am being admonished and am making history right now, I think I have acknowledged the fact that I made mistakes in the previous committee." -
@stephanie right! lol
-
@chris I completely agree with everything you said there.
I sincerely hope it does lead to change, but I'm doubtful we'll see much accountability after that.
Other politicians will likely take notice and that public display (the way it should be) and it'll motivate them to avoid it. I think that may be the best we can hope for.