Government Operations Committee on Nov. 23rd, 2010

[Paul Sauvé]

Mr. Prud'Homme seemed to say there would be other events and that it would be helpful if there were other ones.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Did he tell you where?

[Paul Sauvé]

After the coat fiasco--

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

There was no longer any service at that number.

[Paul Sauvé]

I wasn't in the mood for spaghetti anymore.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Cashmere either.

[Paul Sauvé]

Right.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Were you asked to organize a fundraising campaign for Mr. Paradis in the riding of Mégantic—L'Érable?

[Paul Sauvé]

No.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You gave Mr. Piché $1,000. Was that to thank him?

[Paul Sauvé]

It was a contribution. I can't say whether it was to thank him.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

When you gave him that money, was it to thank him or to encourage him?

[Paul Sauvé]

It was one of the things we were expected to do at the event that evening. We had to write a cheque and I made my contribution.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You organized a dinner with André Boisclair. Did you also fundraise for the Parti québécois or the Bloc Québécois?

[Paul Sauvé]

I did not fundraise for the Parti québécois. Many moons ago, André Boisclair asked me to give him a hand. I invited about 30 guests to my residence.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

People we know?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Mr. Coderre.

Thank you, Mr. Sauvé.

Mr. Calandra is next for five minutes, please.

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Listen, there have been so many inconsistencies in what you've said. Earlier today in your testimony you said you didn't know him. You apparently didn't have a computer to Google Mr. Varin, but his reputation preceded him later on in the testimony.

You're trying to make us believe you're just a poor, ethically challenged businessperson who really didn't care about greasing and doing things until you got caught. Now that you've been caught, you come to this committee, throw yourself in front of it, and say, “Everybody else did me wrong, but it's only because I got caught doing something stupid.”

The only evidence you're providing here today is the fact that you got scammed by somebody and gave $120,000 to a person who, in your own words, is a lobbyist who's not a lobbyist.

Who in Public Works did Mr. Varin give money to here?

[Paul Sauvé]

I didn't get caught doing anything.

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

My question is who...?

Mr. Chair, can you make sure he answers the question?

[Paul Sauvé]

Please rephrase your comment.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Mr. Calandra, it is reasonable to give witnesses some opportunity to respond to your first inquiry. Your first inquiry was about a minute and 15 seconds. Let Mr. Sauvé respond to your first inquiry and then you can respond thereafter.

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

My first inquiry is, who did Mr. Varin give money to here in Public Works to give you the contract?

[Paul Sauvé]

I can't say.

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

Do you have any proof that he gave money to anybody in Public Works?