Government Operations Committee on Nov. 16th, 2010

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

You were never told that the senior officers of the Pomerleau company, which won $100 million worth of federal contracts, paid $11,000 to the constituency associations of three Conservative ministers of that time, including $3,200 to the constituency of Vaudreuil—Soulanges? That was between 2007 and 2009. Do you know the officers of the Pomerleau company?

[Michael Fortier]

Of course I know them.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

You weren't aware that those people had paid the constituency of Vaudreuil—Soulanges $3,000?

[Michael Fortier]

No. Since you've looked into donations that were intended for me, you may have noticed that I received a lot when I was trying to get elected in the riding of Vaudreuil—Soulanges. As you no doubt know, I was unable to get elected. Many people made contributions, which is permitted under the act.

As to whether I was aware that people making contributions to the party—to my fund or those of others—had obtained contracts, the answer is no. There is no system through which I could have been informed of that. There is a system in Canada that enables people to make contributions up to a certain amount. If they do so, that's in the context of the act. So it isn't brought to the minister's attention.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

All right. We all know now that your assistant at the time, Bernard Côté, had lunch with Mr. Paul Sauvé. At the last minute, the latter obtained a contract which was amended. Did Bernard Côté tell you about that lunch at the time?

[Michael Fortier]

No.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

He never told you about Mr. Sauvé?

[Michael Fortier]

I believe I met him once at the event associated with the renovations of St. James United Church. That was the day of the incident at Dawson College. I was at the church with him on the evening in question since he had been the contractor for that work. I don't believe I have seen him again since that time.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Don't you think it was unusual for your assistant at that time to go and eat with a contractor who won a contract from the government in the following months?

[Michael Fortier]

I would find that situation unusual if the conversation had focused on the way for that person to win a contract. You of course know that, Ms. Bourgeois. These people may know each other. I don't know; I don't know the story linking those two individuals. You have heard from Mr. Sauvé and you will be hearing from him again. You can ask him the question.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

And yet Mr. Côté was your closest assistant. You should have known his background. I get the impression he pretty much did what he wanted in your office. Am I mistaken?

[Michael Fortier]

That's false. You should also question Mr. Côté if you haven't already done so. You're asking whether I should have known that he had eaten with Mr. Sauvé. Under the parameters of the rules I had set in my office, it was clear that, as minister of Public Works and Government Services, I was not at all involved in the awarding of contracts or in offering advice on that matter. Mr. Côté operated within the limits of those parameters for the two years when he worked with me. If he ate with Mr. Sauvé, I don't know what they talked about.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

All right.

[Michael Fortier]

I wasn't informed of that.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Did you know Senator Nolin when you became a senator?

[Michael Fortier]

Yes.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

You no doubt knew his assistant, Mr. Pichet.

[Michael Fortier]

No, I didn't know him.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

You never met Mr. Pichet?

[Michael Fortier]

I may have seen him, but he's not someone I knew.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

All right.

[Michael Fortier]

As I told Mr. Coderre earlier, I didn't work a lot for the Conservative Party before coming to Ottawa. These aren't people I knew.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

As I said earlier, you were minister from February 2006 until June 24, 2008. LM Sauvé won the contract to renovate the Parliament buildings on May 30, 2008 by submitting a bid that was nearly $2 million lower than those of the other bidders. Were you aware that LM Sauvé had won the contract?

[Michael Fortier]

Not at all.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

No one told you about it?