Government Operations Committee on April 10th, 2008

[François Guimont]

I heard of these allegations, I sat down with my staff, and I'm satisfied that no such attempts were made. That's the answer.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

So no?

[François Guimont]

No.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Okay.

Mr. Fortier, I don't read just the National Post. In fact, I don't particularly like it—no surprise there.

I was reading a very interesting article in The Globe and Mail. The headline was “The benefit of doling out bags of cash, region by region”. You were mentioned as a hero for the city of Montreal for bringing jobs.

And the National Post—another one of my personal favourites, as I just said—had an article about Fortier fighting to get the maximum for Quebec. With the CGI contract, it was a Montreal-based company. There were questions about your role. The National Post even described the cozy relationship with CGI.

This is now in the courts. A number of allegations have been made in this case. If the taxpayer is on the hook for $256 million because of this debacle, will you resign as minister?

[Michael Fortier]

Mr. Angus, we will defend the process before the courts. The department handled this at arm's length from the minister, like any other contract. The minister does not get involved, nor does his staff.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

You're not taking responsibility for any of this.

[Michael Fortier]

Absolutely, no.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Absolutely not.

[Michael Fortier]

I'm trying to be as bipartisan as I can. I think you should be happy and pleased that this is the way it works, that I'm not there every morning meeting with François and his team and saying, “Okay, this contract, that guy.” That's not the way it works. It's handled by Monsieur Guimont and his team at arm's length from the minister.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I understand that, Minister. The question here was that here was a contract that was very controversial, where the calls from public said, “Listen, just do not award that contract yet. Let's examine it to make sure everything was done.” We have a personal assurance from you that everything was done, but the public doesn't have that. There is no sense here that transparency was followed.

So once again, if the courts rule—and they may or may not—in favour of the plaintiff, then the taxpayer is going to be on the hook. And that happened under your watch, so would you take responsibility for that?

[Michael Fortier]

If there was something untoward that would have taken place, absolutely. Absolutely, Mr. Angus, I would. You have my word about this. I would.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Thank you.

[Michael Fortier]

But for you to suggest—

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Thank you very much.

[Michael Fortier]

Can I respond?

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I'll give you half a second to finish.

[Michael Fortier]

I know you're not trying to say this, but for you to suggest that when I raise it with my then deputy and this deputy and they do their own due diligence in-house, this is not transparency, I would disagree with you, sir. I really would.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Thank you.

Mr. Casey.

[Bill Casey, Independent, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Thank you.

The Victoria submarine went into dry dock in July 2005 for an extended docking work overhaul. It's still there, and the commander of the subdivision says they're not going to be able to get it out in a three-year period, that it looks like four years for the extended docking work program. Do you have an estimate of how much that refit is going to cost?

[Liliane saint pierre]

I'm sorry, I don't.

[Bill Casey, Independent, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Can you get us one? Can you get the committee a cost of that?

[Liliane saint pierre]

Yes. We'll contact the Department of National Defence.

[Michael Fortier]

The Department of National Defence should be the one providing you with this information.

[Bill Casey, Independent, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

All right, but can you get that for us?

[Liliane saint pierre]

Yes.