OTTAWA - A fourth cabinet minister acknowledges Rahim Jaffer contacted his office, as the Conservative government turned over more documents Tuesday to a committee examining allegations of illegal lobbying.
Industry Minister Tony Clement said the former Tory MP sent an email to one of his staff, but described it as "innocuous." Even so, the message exchange has been sent to a House of Commons committee, as well as to the commissioner of lobbying.
"No contracts were asked for, no government business, but we're supplying that information in an overabundance of caution perhaps, but I think it's important to get all these things out there, and you'll be able to judge for yourself," said Clement.
The minister added he didn't believe the exchange constituted lobbying.
Environment Minister Jim Prentice, Transport Minister John Baird and Gary Goodyear, minister of state for science and technology, also turned over documents to the committee and to the lobbying commissioner, all detailing communication with Jaffer and his business partner Patrick Glemaud.
Jaffer and Glemaud, who run a company called Green Power Generation, have insisted they never lobbied the government and only ever approached officials with requests for information.
The opposition and news media have been asking for details on the Conservative government's contact over the last year with Jaffer, but the information has emerged in fits and starts.
"Everything is like pulling teeth," said Liberal MP Siobhan Coady, a member of the Commons government operations committee.
"You have to keep asking, insisting, coercing and browbeating to try and get any information. So much for transparency."
New Democrat MP Pat Martin described it as the dance of the seven veils.
Last week, Baird released files related to the former MP's dealings with his office, when Jaffer and Glemaud acknowledged they sent renewable-energy project descriptions to his department.
But most of the time the Tories play the coquette, revealing their contact with the pair only after questions are raised publicly.
Last Friday, Prentice revealed that his director of regional affairs had met with Jaffer even though he had heard about it Tuesday -- a day before Jaffer appeared at the government operations committee.
Prentice's statement to the House said he was advised "a member of my staff in Calgary" was approached by Jaffer, leading most to believe the meeting happened in that city.
His office failed to mention the meeting actually took place in the Ottawa office of Jaffer's wife, former cabinet minister Helena Guergis. That information came to light Monday, after a pointed question by a Liberal during question period.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper elicited laughter in the Commons on Tuesday when he said the government had been transparent.
"Mr. Jaffer's actions are known for a reason, it's because the environment minister and other ministers have been transparent about these actions," Harper said during question period.
"They brought these actions to the authorities and we are determined to hold accountable those who don't respect the laws adopted by our government."
Martin said he doesn't believe the government has fully described the full scope of its contact with Jaffer.
"I see him in the members' gym, for heaven sake, where he could easily find ministers on the treadmill. He has been skulking around the hallways of Centre Block for a year and a half," said Martin.
"It is plausible that there has been lots of different informal contacts where business may or may not have been discussed."
The government operations committee will hear testimony Wednesday from Nazim Gillani, a business contact of Jaffer's.
Gillani and Jaffer had been discussing a potential business opportunity related to a renewable energy company, the same company about which Jaffer's firm had sent inquiries to the government.
