Modeling Journey

There is a lot of speculation about just how much was paid in commissions for the sale of aircraft by Airbus to Air Canada, who was paid a commission, whether these were cash payments or deposits into bank accounts, what bank accounts were involved, and other issues.

Schreiber did not really answer questions asked on Thursday about what payments he made during his dealings regarding several matters, nor did he name any names.

The attached article covers some ground as per Macleans of those heady days when the RCMP was sued by Mulroney for sending a request to the Swiss regarding certain accounts they thought were being opened for the purposes of commissions being paid. In the article, reference is made to several people, and to several banks.

The article quotes Mulroney's assertions at the time that he did not influence Air Canada in the decision to purchase any aircraft from Airbus:

" Mulroney's dramatic action followed a series of media inquiries and reports last week. First, on Thursday, Maclean's sent a letter containing detailed questions about Mulroney's alleged involvement in the Airbus scandal to his Montreal law office. The next day, his lawyer, Fred Kaufman, issued a statement to the magazine saying that the former prime minister flatly denied any wrongdoing. "Mr. Mulroney states unequivocally that he did not in any way influence or try to influence Air Canada's decision to purchase aircraft made by Airbus," Kaufman wrote. "Nor was he ever a party to any agreement to influence this decision or to receive any consideration, directly or indirectly, for so doing." The statement went on: "Mr. Mulroney states unequivocally that he does not now have, nor did he ever have, directly or indirectly, a bank account in any foreign country.""

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0010517

Perhaps the Ethics Committee should read the article, talk to the journalists who wrote it, and consider calling the persons named in the article.

The article also mentions some speculation by a German newspaper that the commissions made for various transactions might have reached $46 million. It also mentions - but does not name - a "former business partner of Schreiber's" who gave the RCMP information about bank accounts. Be interesting to find out who that person was, and whether he or she is available for questioning by the Ethics Committee.

The article also contains this very interesting quote from Frank Moores (which Schreiber might not agree with, perhaps the Committee could ask him about it?):

" Moores also denied that he ever lobbied for Airbus, a statement he has made several times since 1988. "There is not a darn thing that I can say at this time except to say what I've said for - what, two or three years now - that is, that it is totally inaccurate," he said."

The article has some information on Moores stint on the Air Canada board:

" In March, 1985, Mulroney fired the entire Air Canada board of directors and replaced them with a group that contained many of his political associates, including Moores. When news reports revealed in July, 1985, that Moores was lobbying for other airlines, he was forced to drop them as clients. But a few weeks later, he was also forced to leave the Air Canada board because of his involvement with the Airbus consortium, which was then seeking the Air Canada contract. It was that same year that Airbus signed the contract with IAL. Then, in 1986, with the deal done between Airbus and IAL, Schreiber and Moores opened the two bank accounts in Zurich."

Interesting reading that old article by Stevie Cameron. I wonder when she will appear before the Ethics Committee?