Government Operations Committee on Dec. 9th, 2010

[Bernard Côté]

No.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Any oral communication, like phone communication, with him?

[Bernard Côté]

None that I remember.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

What about e-mail communication?

[Bernard Côté]

Neither.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Fax?

[Bernard Côté]

No.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

I think that's the relevant piece, as we keep trying to come back to what the point of this committee is about, which is what involvement you may or may not have had as it relates to dealings with Mr. Sauvé and any relationship you've had in relation to the West Block.

Is there anything you want to add, notwithstanding the questions from all sides here, that you haven't had an opportunity to respond to?

[Bernard Côté]

I'll go back to my opening statement. Everything is there. All the facts that are related to the matter are in my opening statement.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

I think that's been very clear. I want to thank you for that, Monsieur Côté.

If I'm not out of time, I'll give it back to Mr. Warkentin. I defer to you, sir.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Are you going to give me a minute?

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

I'll give it to Mr. Warkentin, if there's time.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Oh, Mr. Warkentin, yes.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

There is just one other thing that I think is important. Mr. Holder has asked if you've been in communication with Mr. Sauvé. But my question is, have you ever had correspondence with Public Works officials as it relates to the parliamentary precinct?

[Bernard Côté]

No.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Have you been in contact with Public Works officials relating to any aspect of the West Block renovation project?

[Bernard Côté]

No.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Have you been in touch with any other department as it relates to the renovation of the West Block?

[Bernard Côté]

No.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I've run out of questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Mr. Warkentin.

Mr. Coderre, five minutes.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Chairman, what troubles me is the following scenario. There is a person named Bernard Côté, who goes out with a girl called Julie Couillard. That girl is close to the bikers, the "biker guys". There is a company called LM Sauvé, which has been infiltrated by the Hells Angels.

I'm not judging you. You went out with Ms. Couillard, you lost your job, you were dismissed, or you submitted your resignation because of that. It seems to me there are starting to be connections between the infiltration of certain contracting firms and the Hells Angels' situation, and that's troubling me. This can then become a scheme so that organized crime can launder money. Our role is to ask questions in order to protect not only our taxpayers, but the institution as well.

When you saw that Mr. Sauvé's company had been infiltrated by the Hells Angels, what went through your mind? Did you wonder what that affair was about? When did you know that Mr. Sauvé's company had been infiltrated by the Hells Angels?

[Bernard Côté]

I suppose it was at the same time as you, when it was reported on TV.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Did that trouble you?

[Bernard Côté]

Well, did that trouble me? My answer is yes, like any—