The Kielburger brothers have until Friday to testify to the Commons ethics committee or face jail, says Blacklock’s Reporter..“I will sign the summons immediately,” Conservative MP Chris Warkentin (Grande Prairie-Mackenzie, Alta.), chair of the committee, said Monday..“That will be delivered to the Kielburger lawyers as soon as possible.”.Craig and Marc Kielburger were scheduled to testify Monday on their successful lobbying for a $43.5 million grant approved by cabinet last May 22..The grant was revoked on disclosures the Kielburgers failed to disclose $481,751 in gifts and payments to the Prime Minister’s family, another $41,366 in expense-paid trips for then-Finance Minister Bill Morneau Minister at resorts in Kenya and Ecuador, and the fact they hired Morneau’s daughter out of college. Morneau last August 21 abruptly resigned as MP for Toronto Centre under threat of censure..On March 3, the Kielburgers’ lawyer wrote the committee saying the brothers refused to take questions..“It was, I think, shocking,” said Conservative MP Michael Barrett (Leeds-Grenville, Ont.)..“Not only would they not appear in response to an invitation, they also stated they would not appear if a summons were issued for them. That’s incredibly serious. Our committee and Canada’s Parliament have a right to request witnesses appear, and we also have a right to issue a summons.”.The committee unanimously passed Barrett’s motion the brothers be formally summoned for three hours of questioning, and should they fail to appear “the chair shall be instructed to present a report to the House forthwith” that could see the Kielburgers taken into custody and forced to attend the hearing..“I don’t think there is a member here who is in disagreement,” said Liberal MP Brenda Shanahan (Chateauguay-Lacolle, Que.).“It is more than disrespect. It is a challenge to the authority we have as parliamentarians.”.“If we tolerate this, I don’t know how far this will go,” said Bloc Québécois MP Rhéal Fortin (Riviere-du-Nord, Que.)..“If they do not appear at committee by Friday we will consider them to be obstructing and hostile toward the work of the committee,” said New Democrat MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay, Ont.)..“When you are in the business of raising charitable funds, trust and accountability is sacrosanct, so you show up and answer the tough questions.”.Guy Giorno, a lawyer advising WE Charity, told CBC the men will appear before the committee with legal counsel but will not answer questions that could form a part of a RCMP or Canada Revenue Agency investigation..Parliament last jailed a hostile witness in 1913, a Montréal contractor who refused to testify on the identities of MPs who accepted $41,926 in kickbacks. R.C. Miller, president of Diamond Light & Heat Company Ltd., was jailed three months at Ottawa’s Carleton County Jail..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter.com/nobby7694
The Kielburger brothers have until Friday to testify to the Commons ethics committee or face jail, says Blacklock’s Reporter..“I will sign the summons immediately,” Conservative MP Chris Warkentin (Grande Prairie-Mackenzie, Alta.), chair of the committee, said Monday..“That will be delivered to the Kielburger lawyers as soon as possible.”.Craig and Marc Kielburger were scheduled to testify Monday on their successful lobbying for a $43.5 million grant approved by cabinet last May 22..The grant was revoked on disclosures the Kielburgers failed to disclose $481,751 in gifts and payments to the Prime Minister’s family, another $41,366 in expense-paid trips for then-Finance Minister Bill Morneau Minister at resorts in Kenya and Ecuador, and the fact they hired Morneau’s daughter out of college. Morneau last August 21 abruptly resigned as MP for Toronto Centre under threat of censure..On March 3, the Kielburgers’ lawyer wrote the committee saying the brothers refused to take questions..“It was, I think, shocking,” said Conservative MP Michael Barrett (Leeds-Grenville, Ont.)..“Not only would they not appear in response to an invitation, they also stated they would not appear if a summons were issued for them. That’s incredibly serious. Our committee and Canada’s Parliament have a right to request witnesses appear, and we also have a right to issue a summons.”.The committee unanimously passed Barrett’s motion the brothers be formally summoned for three hours of questioning, and should they fail to appear “the chair shall be instructed to present a report to the House forthwith” that could see the Kielburgers taken into custody and forced to attend the hearing..“I don’t think there is a member here who is in disagreement,” said Liberal MP Brenda Shanahan (Chateauguay-Lacolle, Que.).“It is more than disrespect. It is a challenge to the authority we have as parliamentarians.”.“If we tolerate this, I don’t know how far this will go,” said Bloc Québécois MP Rhéal Fortin (Riviere-du-Nord, Que.)..“If they do not appear at committee by Friday we will consider them to be obstructing and hostile toward the work of the committee,” said New Democrat MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay, Ont.)..“When you are in the business of raising charitable funds, trust and accountability is sacrosanct, so you show up and answer the tough questions.”.Guy Giorno, a lawyer advising WE Charity, told CBC the men will appear before the committee with legal counsel but will not answer questions that could form a part of a RCMP or Canada Revenue Agency investigation..Parliament last jailed a hostile witness in 1913, a Montréal contractor who refused to testify on the identities of MPs who accepted $41,926 in kickbacks. R.C. Miller, president of Diamond Light & Heat Company Ltd., was jailed three months at Ottawa’s Carleton County Jail..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter.com/nobby7694
