Evidence of meeting #36 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 know.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:10 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
Yes, they briefed me about progress on the work, generally. However, they didn't talk about the various components of the RFPs or the corporations that were interested or not interested in it.
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
No, I'm not interested in that.
I'm interested in knowing whether you were told of any problems, whether you were told whether timetables were being met and, if not, whether you were told what would be done to rectify the situation.
10:15 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
Yes, they had plan Bs.
In some respects, the timetables were going to be extended because I don't remember that we had any problems finding rental space to rehouse people who are here. So that slowed us down. That's one of the big problems we were facing, as I remember it.
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Broccolini, I followed what you were saying with considerable interest, but you didn't finish. You talked about your complaints, about what had troubled you about the awarding of the contracts. Could you go back to what you told us a little earlier?
10:15 a.m.
Vice-President, Montreal, Broccolini Construction Inc.
In fact, there was an initial RFP in which our bid was made public and in which everyone saw our price. At that point, we thought we had one the contract, but it was subsequently cancelled in writing. We hired lawyers to sue the minister because it was a public RFP in which we had complied with all the regulations. We did not know why the contract had been cancelled.
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
10:15 a.m.
Vice-President, Montreal, Broccolini Construction Inc.
It started in 2007, but our first bid dated back to September 30, 2008.
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
That's extremely interesting. At that time, you weren't the only business that had had that kind of relationship with PWGSC. In particular, our NDP colleague spoke earlier about what happened with another business. Allow me to come back to that a little later.
Did you discuss your dissatisfaction with Minister Paradis?
10:15 a.m.
Vice-President, Montreal, Broccolini Construction Inc.
I wanted to know whether he was aware of the file.
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
10:15 a.m.
Vice-President, Montreal, Broccolini Construction Inc.
Yes, the file has been resolved because there was a second RFP in which we were the lowest bidder.
10:15 a.m.
Vice-President, Montreal, Broccolini Construction Inc.
Yes, that was the second time.
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
You wanted to know whether the minister was aware of that. What was his answer? Did he tell you he was aware of the situation?
10:15 a.m.
Vice-President, Montreal, Broccolini Construction Inc.
He told me he wasn't aware.
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
10:15 a.m.
Vice-President, Montreal, Broccolini Construction Inc.
That was the first and last time.
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Who contacted you for you to attend the fundraiser? A little earlier you told us it was the restaurant owner, didn't you?
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Do you believe you won a number of contracts from the Government of Canada because you subsequently expressed your dissatisfaction? In fact, in recent years, you have won government contracts worth more than $650 million. Are my figures correct?
10:15 a.m.
Vice-President, Montreal, Broccolini Construction Inc.
I don't know where you got those figures. I would definitely like to have $650 million.
10:15 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
I was told that, in 2010, you won the contract for the building at 22 Eddy Street, which is leased to PWGSC for 25 years. Is that correct?
I was also told that, in 2010 as well, you received a contract for the building at 455 Boulevard de la Carrière, which will also be leased to PWGSC at a cost of $213.5 million. You won a lot of contracts from the Government of Canada like those ones.
10:15 a.m.
Vice-President, Montreal, Broccolini Construction Inc.
Those are two contracts with PWGSC. The annual rent of the building at 22 Eddy Street is $11.7 million a year.
