No.
Evidence of meeting #43 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 summit.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #43 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 summit.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Okay.
That's consistent with the testimony we've heard so far. We've heard from Public Works that, within the department, they were fully responsible for that, that qualified public servants were actually engaged and fully responsible for that.
I just wanted to be assured, because we are discussing the issue of the parliamentary renovations, that you were not involved in that process.
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Okay.
Well then, I guess we'll just engage in a fishing expedition, seeing that it's been the consistent practice of this committee.
So far we've heard you contradict Mr. Sauvé's testimony slightly—but you're not alone. Every single witness who's come before this committee, either before or after Mr. Sauvé, has contradicted Mr. Sauvé's testimony, including Mr. Sauvé himself within it. So it's not unusual that you would do that.
As a matter of fact, when he came before the committee, he contradicted himself a couple of times, including some of the documentation he brought that contradicted what he said.
So it's not surprising that you would contradict what he said. But you can assure us that when you met with him, you did not assure him that he would receive the contract—
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
That's interesting. Did you undertake to advise Mr. Sauvé as to what he should include in his submission to Public Works as it relates to the contract?
10:05 a.m.
As an Individual
I did not know what the contract was, the specifics of the contract. I was totally unaware of anything concerning the contract. So it's very difficult to advise on something you don't know.
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I appreciate that. My time has run out, so I thank you for your testimony.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you, Mr. Warkentin and Mr. Côté.
Mr. Martin, for eight minutes, please.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
It seems the testimony of all the people who are connected with these contracts is “the dog ate my homework” defence. You can never seem to remember the pertinent details that we need to know about. “The dog ate my homework”--that's what I used to tell my teacher at school. Your story is about as plausible as mine was then, I can tell you.
Mr. Sauvé was spending $10,000 to $15,000 a month on Mr. Varin--to meet you. Eventually all he got for his money was to meet you, but by some happy coincidence, as soon as that happened, he got his contract. This is the connection that you can't deny. They go to this restaurant, happily you are there, they get pulled to a private table at the back, he gets a one on one with the Minister of Public Works' executive assistant, and bingo, bango, bongo, he gets his job.
What is your connection with Julie Couillard?
10:05 a.m.
As an Individual
I read here, as the study of this committee, “management of the Department of Public Works and Government Services in awarding of contracts for the renovation of parliamentary buildings”. Julie Couillard has nothing to do with that.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Yes, sir, it does. It has to do with the awarding of a contract to a contractor who was mobbed up by the Hells Angels, and now, in regard to this woman who used to be involved with bikers, I want to know if there's a personal relationship between him and Mr. Côté.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Again I say to you what I said to Mr. Gourde. We seem to be going awfully far out here. I'll allow this line of questioning for a while longer, but please bring it back to relevancy.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Chair, through you, could you remind the witness that he does not have the right to remain silent at a parliamentary committee. That right is offset by his parliamentary privilege at this committee.
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
What Mr. Martin says is quite true, but I would come back to relevance, and I would ask you, as you've suggested, to keep relevance very much in mind in any line of questioning.
Thank you, sir.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Did you have a personal relationship? Have you ever met personally with Julie Couillard?
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Let me ask you this as well. You have a background in real estate, and one of the biggest files of Mr. Fortier at the time was the sale and leaseback of some publicly owned commercial office buildings. Is that correct?