Evidence of meeting #38 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was old.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
The funding we receive comes from Canadian taxpayers. We understand that. With the money we are given, we do as much as we can, but it isn't enough. More should be invested in maintaining assets.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pierre-Luc Dusseault
Your time is up, Mr. Coderre.
Mr. Carmichael, you have seven minutes.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses for appearing today.
Let me begin by correcting the record from the previous questioner. You're here today on an opposition motion. It was a motion moved by the NDP, not the Conservatives.
I want to ask you about your organization. Clearly it's a significant organization. You talk about the scale of the land holdings and the asset value. I understand that. But it sounds to me as if you position yourself more in the entertainment business than in the management of resources and assets. Would that be correct?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
Historically, we were responsible for developing and improving assets that were entrusted to us. There are several ways of doing it. During public consultations in 1986, residents gathered and decided that the site should remain a tourist and cultural site, that we should protect the location, keep the site free and accessible at all times and develop based on the residents' needs.
That's why in 2000, with the help of the Canadian government, we created the Montreal Science Centre. The federal government invested $20 million in it. We found $12 million in the private sector. So we were able to give the city a science centre, the second largest in Canada.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Thank you.
How many members are on the board of directors for the Old Port?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
Our board has five members.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Is that board directly responsible for your operation?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
Yes. I report on activities to the board. The board approves the business plan and the annual report. It is involved in the strategic plan, the corporation's direction and in the main governance activities.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Okay. So your budgets, your salary, your HR processes, etc., are all under the jurisdiction of your board of directors at the Old Port.
Do you report directly to that board?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
That's right. We also submit to the minister our annual report and business plan, which she presents to Cabinet and to the Treasury Board for approval.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
How often do you meet with your own board of directors?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
There are eight to 10 meetings a year, not including the meetings of the human resources and audit committees. The audit committee meets five or six times, and the human resources committee meets two or three times.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Does the HR committee manage your personal compensation package?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
Actually, my contract was signed in 2000. It has been renewed since then. Normally, the human resources committee receives my self-evaluation. Then, the chair testifies to the conversation that was had about my evaluation and my objectives. I leave the room, and the human resources committee deliberates in private. Then, a decision is made about the value of my compensation and my performance bonus, based on my objectives and how well those objectives were attained.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
Was your trip to Australia pre-approved by your board?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
No, the board does not approve the trips. The trip had been discussed and approved by the board chair at the time.
Conservative
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
No, my trips must be approved by the chair. Trips of over 1,000 km must be approved by the chair.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
So the board had an expectation of what you were going to bring back from Australia and New Zealand. You were going to bring back a whole bunch of new ideas to rejuvenate the old port. Is that correct?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
Yes.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
The board chair approved my trips because he thought that my mission was in the interest of the corporation. In fact, following that trip, I was able to report to my teams and my professionals on examples of practices in other countries in the world.
Conservative
John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON
We're going to receive those reports, and I'll leave that as previously discussed.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
Yes.
