Government Operations Committee on Nov. 26th, 2009

[John McBain]

That transfer, no. They were already planned through our A-base. This just reflected what we did with our economic action plan. When we put out the plan it was very early days, so we put in indicative numbers and it was noted in our Treasury Board submission that we may need to move the money, depending on which projects were selected to go forward.

[Renée Jolicoeur]

I will have to get back to you, Madam Chair, because I don't know.

[Alex Lakroni]

No, Madam Chair, but I would like to clarify a point that was made earlier. You asked us under the sales lease-back to provide you with the list of assets, the advisers, within two weeks.

It came to my attention that all the business cases and analysis were provided to the committee in a previous Parliament, including the advisers--Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank, and Deutsche Bank. So my question is, do we still need to provide you with that information?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I am advised by the analyst that we have the information.

Madam Hall Findlay.

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

That's great then. Thank you. Sorry for asking for information that we didn't have with different people changing.

But I think there was a mention of additional other consultants that may have been involved. You've listed three banks. We understand them to be advisers, but could you commit that there were no other consultants or people involved in those? I mean, they're seven pretty big dispositions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madam Hall Findlay, we will look at what information we have--

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

No, sorry, Madam Chair. We were told that we had the list of three advising banks, and I'm asking that if there were other consultants involved, could the identity of those also be provided?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Yes, Mr. Warkentin.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Madam Chair, as a point of clarification, we as a committee undertook a report of this entire issue some months ago. I know that there's a report and all that information was available and asked for. So I know that our analyst would be able to get that information. We as a committee--

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I have a clarification question to ask Mr. Lakroni.

Did you state that there were additional consultants on the file? If you did, then it's a valid question that Madam Hall Findlay is asking.

[John McBain]

Madam Chair, I was responding to the question. When I was referring to consultants, I was referring to the banks, because we did use two banks as part of the initial plan and then we had Deutsche Bank come in and provide advice on the advice that we were being given. Those are the consultants I was referring to in my response.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay.

Thank you very much.

[Alex Lakroni]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

The only business we have is to let you know that Mr. Minto is coming for two hours next Tuesday and that we will be voting on estimates on Thursday, after we are finished with the Treasury Board.

The meeting is adjourned.