'Keep your bags packed': Consul general grilled over $9M NYC condo purchase
Consul general to New York Tom Clark says he had “no role whatsoever” in the purchase of his new official residence in Manhattan that cost $9 million and sparked political attention over the summer.
“I had no role whatsoever in either deciding to sell the former residence or buying the new one. That was completely undertaken by the property bureau in Ottawa,” Clark testified to a House of Commons committee on Thursday. “I was not involved in the selection of the new property, its amenities or its location.”
This is the first time Canadians are hearing from Clark after reports emerged in July that the federal government had bought a new piece of luxury real estate for him to live in. The condo is at Steinway Tower, known as the world's thinnest skyscraper and located on "Billionaire's Row" in Manhattan.
The federal government has said Canada's former Manhattan residence was last renovated in 1982 and required significant upgrades that were estimated to cost $2.6 million. Officials have also contended that buying the new residence will save Canadian taxpayers millions of dollars and reduce maintenance costs.
But the Conservatives have argued that the new condo is another example of the Liberal government putting its elite friends before Canadians. On Thursday, testimony between Clark and Conservative members of the committee got heated at times.
“Did you ever take a moment, as someone who spent a career in journalism, to question the prime minister or anyone on the opulence of this location amid the backdrop of the cost of living crisis that we're facing here in Canada?” Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett asked Clark on Thursday.
“I am well aware of the challenges being faced by both Canadians and Americans when it comes to housing,” Clark responded. “In this case, I was not involved in any way shape or form in the decision to buy this new residence or sell the old residence.”
Barrett later told Clark to “keep your bags packed in that new place. Conservatives are going to fire you.”
MPs also repeatedly pushed Clark on his potential involvement in the purchase.
Conservative MP Larry Brock referred to an internal email between Global Affairs Canada officials dated on June 17 that said Clark was “instrumental throughout this process” and gave “the greenlight for the selection of the new residence.”
“It is in writing by the department. Tom Clark, you sir, were instrumental in the condo purchase on billionaire’s row,” Brock said.
In response, Clark said the email was wrong and was written by someone who was not involved in the process.
“I only became aware of this email less than 48 hours ago. I too was taken aback by what was in it because it was simply wrong,” Clark said.
The opposition also pushed Clark on a visit Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made to New York City in April 2023.
“When did you first bring (the residence) up with the Prime Minister?” Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie asked Clark. “The chronological timeline would definitely indicate that you had conversations with the Prime Minister about the residence.”
Clark responded to the accusation, saying “unequivocally, no.”
“It's completely wrong. I never spoke with the prime minister about the old residence or the new residence or any residence.”
Kusie then fought back, saying “why don’t we just stop the lying.”
“When we get to the point of accusing people of lying, I think that we are in very, very dangerous territory here,” Clark responded.
In his testimony, Clark also described the role and importance of the official residence of the consul general of New York, saying he has hosted 38 events there since he was appointed in February 2023.
“I think that we have to understand that while our friends are our friends in the G20 and the G7, they're also our competitors here in places like New York,” Clark said. “They're after the same pie that I'm after.”
In August, a senior Global Affairs Canada official told MPs that Clark had no influence on the government’s decision to buy the new property.
"There was no influence from Mr. Clark. He was not involved in the consultation or decision process," senior assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs Canada Stéphane Cousineau told the committee on Aug. 22.
Clark was invited to appear on Aug. 26, but Global Affairs Canada told CTV News then that he was “unavailable on the date initially proposed.”
On Thursday, Clark clarified that he was not able to testify in August because he was on leave to spend time with his family.
The committee also passed a motion on Thursday to call upon Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly to testify on the matter before Thanksgiving.
The former official residence is currently listed for $13 million.
Clark was appointed Canada’s consul general in New York in 2023. He previously worked for more than forty years as a broadcast journalist for several organizations, including CTV News and Global News.
With files from CTV News' Rachel Aiello
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates: Category 4 Hurricane Milton approaches Florida coast
Hurricane Milton is a Category 4 storm forecast to bring extreme flooding, high winds and heavy rain to the central west coast of Florida.
Hundreds of thousands of popular vehicles recalled in Canada over steering issue
Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are being recalled in Canada due to a steering-related issue that could increase a driver's risk of crash.
What women should know about their breasts, according to a doctor
One in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States, with 42,000 women dying every year from this cancer.
New actions announced to encourage building of secondary suites, more homes in Canada
The federal government introduced a number of measures related to housing on Tuesday, which include measures for homeowners wanting to add a secondary suite, taxing vacant land and building homes in place of underused federal properties.
WATCH Passengers fleeing Hurricane Milton rescued after private plane crashes into sea
A group of people and a dog fleeing Hurricane Milton had to be rescued near St. Petersburg, Fla., on Tuesday after a private plane crashed into the sea.
'A cause for concern': Canadian universities slip down world ranking list
An organization that ranks the best universities across the globe says its latest report shows a concerning trend that several of Canada’s institutions are slipping down its list.
Las Vegas says goodbye to the Tropicana with a flashy casino implosion
Sin City blew a kiss goodbye to the Tropicana before first light Wednesday in an elaborate implosion that reduced to rubble the last true mob building on the Las Vegas Strip.
A rare comet brightens the night skies in October
The space rock is slinging toward Earth from the outer reaches of the solar system and will make its closest pass on Saturday. It should be visible through the end of October, clear skies permitting.
COVID-19 may increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths for three years after an infection, study suggests
COVID-19 could be a powerful risk factor for heart attacks and strokes for as long as three years after an infection, a large new study suggests.
Local Spotlight
Alberta man's hovercraft creation odyssey 'an incredible experience'
Have you ever seen videos of hovercrafts online or on TV and thought, 'Wow, I wish I could ride one of those.' One Alberta man did, and then built his own.
Saskatchewan's Jessica Campbell becomes first female assistant coach in NHL history
Saskatchewan’s Jessica Campbell has made hockey history, becoming the first ever female assistant coach in the National Hockey League (NHL).
B.C. couple offers Taylor Swift tickets to anyone who can find their missing dog
A B.C. couple is getting desperate – and creative – in their search for their missing dog.
Video shows meteor streaking across Ontario
Videos of a meteor streaking across the skies of southern Ontario have surfaced and small bits of the outer space rock may have made it to land, one astronomy professor says.
Rare cloud formations ripple the sky over Ottawa
A unique form of clouds made an appearance over the skies of Ottawa on Sunday evening.
'It’s unbelievable': N.B. man brings Batmobile to superhero fanatic
Bernie Hicks, known as the ‘Batman of Amherst,’ always wanted to sit in a Batmobile until a kind stranger made it happen.
After four decades of business, Bubi's serves its last meal
Bubi’s Awesome Eats, located on University Ave West took to social media to announce the closure on Friday.
New Far North hospital moves closer to being built after $1.8B design, build contract awarded
Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and the Government of Ontario have awarded a $1.8 billion fixed-price contract to design, build and finance a new Far North hospital.
Severe winds wreak havoc on southern Manitoba
Manitobans are in cleanup mode after intense winds barreled through southern parts of the province this weekend.