Terry Kilrea was such an unqualified candidate for a National Parole Board position that Ottawa-West Nepean MP John Baird dismissed the notion almost immediately after receiving emails saying Kilrea was up for an appointment in 2006.
Baird, who was president of the Treasury Board of Canada at the time, said he never discussed a parole board appointment for Kilrea with anyone because it was not conceivable.
“I didn’t see him as a qualified appointment. There was no benefit to me to be raising the issue,” said Baird during the 90 minutes he gave testimony at Mayor Larry O’Brien’s trial.
Kilrea claims to have emailed Baird on July 12, 2006 about the appointment at the behest of O’Brien, who he said offered to help get him an appointment to the National Parole Board in exchange for Kilrea dropping out of the 2006 mayoral campaign.
The allegation resulted in two criminal charges laid against O’Brien for influence peddling.
Kilrea alleges the offer was made during a July 12, 2006 meeting on the patio of the restaurant at 700 Sussex Dr.
However, O’Brien’s lawyer Michael Edelson accused Kilrea of telling a story that “bears little resemblance to the reality of the discussion that took place” during that meeting.
Edelson suggested that it was Kilrea who raised the prospect of the federal appointment and that O’Brien responded by saying Kilrea would be better off pursing that matter with Baird.
“He told you that there was nothing he could do to get you an appointment,” said Edelson.
“All he told you to do, sir, was that if you were interested in pursuing this dream of being on the parole board, then you should put in an application.”
“I’ve told the truth,” Kilrea answered. “Your interpretation of my conversation with Mr. O’Brien is incorrect.”
Kilrea had his last day of testimony Thursday after seven days on the stand.
