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.
9:10 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
This was someone he knew well. Was Mr. Prud'Homme a close friend of the owner?
9:10 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
He said he was a well-known Conservative organizer and that he was a little isolated. He said that if an event was to be organized, it would be helpful to hold it there.
9:10 a.m.
Bloc
9:10 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
No, not since that one. We were shunted aside and replaced by a bonding company by the name of La Capitale which has its head office in Quebec City. However, before this sad episode, we had secured several Crown contracts, including for the CSIS building, the extensive customs facilities in Montreal, Guy-Favreau Complex, and so on.
9:10 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Since this whole affair, have you had any further meetings or discussions with contractors who have had dealings with Gilles Varin, Mr. Pichet, Senator Nolin or the Conservatives in general?
9:10 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
No. You know, when this kind of episode occurs, you tend to be somewhat ostracized by the industry and a political party as well, since I sort of grew up in that environment. So I haven't had any discussions with anyone.
9:10 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
I would like to come back to the money Mr. Varin received from you. After you won the contract, in late May, there were payments made, including one of close to $28,200, and several others of $11,287. Are those payments you made to Mr. Varin?
9:15 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
I don't have the list in front of me, but if that is taken from our companies' financial statements, then that is in fact the case.
November 23rd, 2010 / 9:15 a.m.
Michel Dorval
If I can just interrupt you, Ms. Bourgeois, we have copies of the endorsed cheques and the accounting sheet listing all the cheques that were issued, with the request for payment on the back. We have the request for payment from Mr. Varin, the cheque issued by LM Sauvé and the returned, endorsed cheque. There are only two missing: the first two. We can't seem to find them, because the file has been given to the trustee in bankruptcy.
If we could table them, I'm not sure you would agree to that--
9:15 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Yes, I would very much appreciate that, but in the meantime, I would like to know--
9:15 a.m.
Michel Dorval
It's only in French, though.
9:15 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
At one point, Mr. Varin was telling us that he had only received $118,000, I believe, from your company. However, when--
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
It is just a comment that will not cut into my colleague's time.
A cheque is not bilingual. Can the cheques be tabled so that we can identify the income source? I would really like to see them, Mr. Chairman.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
It probably depends on the name of the bank that appears on the cheque. Sometimes the name is bilingual. In terms of the amounts, they are usually bilingual. They are in Arabic numerals.
So I'm asking that these documents be tabled.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
9:15 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
I simply want to verify something. Mr. Varin told us that he had received approximately $118,000 from you. You won the contract in late May, I believe. Between June 15, 2008 and January 15, 2009, about $70,000 was paid to Mr. Varin. Are you the one who paid him that money?
9:15 a.m.
President, LM Sauvé
If those amounts appear in our spreadsheets, the answer is yes.
9:15 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
All right. That means that you paid Mr. Varin approximately $140,000?
