Evidence of meeting #44 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was suppliers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
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Voices
Oh, oh!
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Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
When I think about 24 computers and the systems associated with that, I'm sure it was done appropriately.
Mr. Minto, you said a couple of times that you hoped this committee would express sincere appreciation to the public servants for the work they do. I'd like to compliment Ms. Hall Findlay for saying it, and I think I certainly speak for other members around this table when I say that they're the unsung heroes.
We're the ones who get the profile—sometimes good, sometimes bad--but particularly with respect to the procurement process, please take that back to your folks. Perhaps it's not always said, but it's certainly understood that there's great respect for the work they do. I need to share that with all of you.
I have a question. You seem like an accountant with personality, which is kind of interesting--
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An hon. member
Coincidence.
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An hon. member
Excuse me?
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Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Well, no. That would suggest there are at least two in the room like that and it strikes me that--
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Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
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Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
This is a tough committee, sir.
On a more serious level, have you felt any interference from Public Works or any other department in terms of your ability to do your job?
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Procurement Ombudsman, Office of the Procurement Ombudsman
Let me say this, holding nothing back: absolutely not. Let me also say that that our view is that we wouldn't put up with any. Our other view is that I am being paid and my staff are being paid to influence the government and we want to make sure we influence them in a positive way.
We are also being paid to make sure we don't let them influence us in any way at all, and that has not happened. We have worked with complete independence and we've had total respect for our mandate.
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Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Madam Chair, I'm very sensitive to the timeframe, so I'll simply end by again expressing to witnesses our appreciation for the work they do.
I think the testimony you provided today was honourable, forthright, and helpful to this committee.
Thanks to all of you.
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Liberal
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Procurement Ombudsman, Office of the Procurement Ombudsman
We're very encouraged by what we've heard today. I'm taking this as an endorsement of the way we do business. I'll pass that message back to the troops and I'm sure they'll be appreciative.
Thank you so much.
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Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Don't leave your chairs, members. I just need to do some committee business and let the committee know that on Thursday we have the Treasury Board estimates. The minister will be here for the first hour.
In the second hour we were going to review the draft report, but we haven't received the information we wanted from Infrastructure Canada. We want to be fair in putting in the dollars that were spent and we have some conflicting reports regarding schedule H, so we are requesting that Mr. Forster help us out so we can finish the report.
So if anybody has any problems, with Mr. Forster, the deputy minister of Infrastructure, coming for the second hour, we're going to ask him to clarify some things, and we can then finish the report.
Also, we'll have to vote on supplementary estimates for Treasury Board, PWGSC, and PCO, so come prepared for that.
Are there any questions?
Thank you very much.
The meeting is adjourned.