Evidence of meeting #38 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was varin.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:35 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
Because I knew that nothing could shake here if we didn't have representation. It's impossible.
10:35 a.m.
Liberal
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to continue down that line of questioning.
Mr. Sauvé, your story has changed. I know that Monsieur Gourde has asked you with regard to the article in 2008.... It was in Le Devoir and it was written by Claude Turcotte. You are quoted explicitly as saying that you received the contract on the Hill without any political interference. That is consistent with all of the testimony we've heard that can be believed at this table.
Your story has changed. It's changed now maybe as a result of the circumstances you find yourself in. You're looking for an enemy. Things have clearly turned sour in the last number of years for your company. Things have changed.
Now maybe you're looking for an enemy as to why you lost your contracts and why you're losing your company, a company that's been built up over generations by your grandfather and your father. You have undertaken a lot of different things, which I'm sure your father and grandfather would have never conceived of doing. You've now turned to all kinds of different methods to keep your company afloat. Today it looks like you're trying to look for a reason that can explain why you're in the state you are in today.
Why has your story changed since 2008 with regard to the contract on Parliament Hill?
10:35 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
Mr. Warkentin, I'm quite comfortable and quite at peace. Quite frankly, the best thing I've ever done for myself, for my daughter, my wife, my family, was to come out clean with all of this rigmarole in the industry.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
10:35 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
--and it needs to be addressed very specifically.
I will get to that.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Okay. Could you get to that quickly, because I only have five minutes.
10:35 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
If I had not done what I have done, which was to denounce the violence and the outright unbelievable behaviour and truancy of some of these people who proliferate in the construction industry in Quebec today, I would not be here. I have done what I--
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
That's right. I'm wondering if you are now contradicting what you said to Le Devoir in 2008?
I can give you a copy of the article.
10:35 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
Sir, if you were to believe everything you read that's been interpreted by a third party.... I am not even sure what is written there.
November 23rd, 2010 / 10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
It's a direct quote from you and it says there was not political interference in this contract.
10:35 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
I don't know what the journalist is referring to. All I do know is that we hired Varin. We paid, we made the list, and we got the contract. That's what I know.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
And you were the lowest bidder. You claimed to be qualified and Public Works found you to be qualified.
10:35 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
Sir, to this day, we are qualified. The crown has chosen to replace us by an insurance industry carrier who can't even finish the job.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Okay.
The work on the St. James church went over by $4.5 million. What was the original contract let for?
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
