Evidence of meeting #15 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was meeting.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
Thank you, sir. The time is up.
Do you want to split your time?
Mr. Warkentin or Mr. Moore.
Conservative
James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC
Yes. I just have one question, and then Mr. Warkentin will carry it forward.
It's been alleged that somehow a special favour was done in order to mitigate the resolution of the many lawsuits and the legal action that was going on between Rosdev and the federal government, and that Dimitri Soudas was engaged in order to essentially do a political favour for Rosdev.
Mr. Rosenberg, have you ever met Mr. Soudas?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Rosdev Group
No, this is the first time.
Conservative
Conservative
James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC
Well, that's some scandal.
Go ahead, Chris.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Now that we've clarified and made our introductions, it's “pleased to meet you and thank you for coming”. I thank each one of the witnesses. I'm sorry to have taken your time. Obviously the suggestions that were being launched when we started this committee are something of a distant memory at this point, seeing as none of them have come to any type of a conclusion that is in any way similar to the allegations that were made.
Mr. Rosenberg, you did mention that at some point you had received letters from Mr. Scott Brison, I believe, the former Minister of Public Works, with regard to your relationship with him, you being a property owner and an owner of buildings that the federal government leased. I'm wondering if you could share with the committee the comments that are provided in that letter. I think what we're looking for is basically relationships. Now that we've established relationships with the people on the panel today, we'll take the time to look into other relationships that maybe have developed over the past number of years.
I understand that you have been in litigation with the federal government for some time, and I actually have in my possession a letter that I understand Mr. Scott Brison, a former Minister of Public Works, has sent to you. I'll just read a couple of comments:
I have noted that Rosdev was established in the 1970's and has quickly grown to become a leader in the commercial and industrial real estate markets and the hotel industry in Canada and beyond.
In managing, developing and directing your vast commercial [retail] space with the Government of Canada, Rosdev has well-served the public interest and I trust that [our] ongoing relationship will continue to be mutually advantageous and beneficial.
Considering the lawsuit that you are engaged in with the federal government, do you feel this letter was interesting at least and maybe contradictory to the fact that you were engaged in litigation when he was the Minister of Public Works?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Rosdev Group
We have many other letters from Public Works praising us for the work we have done. As I said before, there are some people who are trying to taint our company, and some people who know the truth do praise us when they dig into the file.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I think that may be a contradiction that we're all trying to grapple with, and possibly the contradiction that the members of the panel were trying to grapple with. On one hand, you and the federal government are engaged in a lawsuit, and on the other hand, we have Scott Brison, a former Minister of Public Works who was engaged in that lawsuit with you, and he is saying we will continue in a relationship that will be mutually advantageous and beneficial.
I'm wondering if you know what he might have meant by that wording or if you have any idea as to what he was speaking of, considering the fact that when he was the Public Works minister he was engaged in the lawsuit with you.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Rosdev Group
I don't know exactly the internal politics in Public Works, but it's sometimes strange to say the least. When you get to speak to the top people or to people who understand a file, they'll look to see how we were mistreated. But then you have some others who are, for whatever reason—I don't want to get into it, personal or other reasons—against Rosdev.
I'll read you just a sentence from another letter from Public Works on the issue we brought back from L'Esplanade Laurier when there was glycol that the government had wrongfully.... They managed that part and they contaminated the whole building. Over a holiday weekend we went to work overtime, we stayed in our property and made sure that by Tuesday morning--it was a holiday weekend, Canada Day--the government would be able to work properly in the building. It was Treasury Board, an important department. I have a letter here saying:
The situation tested your stamina, patience, creativity and ability to work effectively as a team with other organizations and agencies.
So we had a lot of letters of praise.
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
Sir, that is not a point of order. We are going to go to the next questioner.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Could I just ask if we could have the letter tabled? That is a point of order, I believe.
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
Bloc
Meili Faille Bloc Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair. I see that there is very little time remaining. My first question will be for Mr. Loiselle, and my last two, for Mr. Soudas.
Mr. Loiselle, did someone explain to you the political interests associated with settling the Rosdev case?
Bloc
Meili Faille Bloc Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
In August of 2006, did someone explain to you at some point, either in an e-mail, at a meeting or in conversations either before or after this meeting that...
, As an Individual
As far as I was concerned, this was a business matter, not a political matter. At issue was a misunderstanding or disagreement with a property owner. This was always a business, and never a political, matter.
Meili Faille Bloc Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
I see. Did someone explain to you that there were political interests associated with resolving this dispute?
, As an Individual
It was never my understanding that there were any political interests associated with resolving this dispute.