Government Operations Committee on Nov. 16th, 2010

[Michael Fortier]

Not at all.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

At no time did anyone raise a flag?

[Michael Fortier]

Never.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

No one came to see you to say that the Hells Angels might have infiltrated in such and such a contract?

[Michael Fortier]

No.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

No one, no member or senator's assistant came to see you to tell you something was fishy about a particular file?

[Michael Fortier]

No.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Were you also involved in files concerning the sale of lands or the leasing of government buildings?

[Michael Fortier]

Are you talking about the sale of government buildings?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Yes.

[Michael Fortier]

Of course, that was done when I was minister.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Were you involved, for example, in leases between leasing companies for government buildings?

[Michael Fortier]

When you say "involved", do you mean "involved as minister"?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Were you aware of that? Were you briefed?

[Michael Fortier]

Of course, I was briefed by the Real Property Branch on our public buildings portfolio and our lease portfolio. At the time, half of our employees were in locations that we leased. So there were regular meetings on the portfolio of leases that linked us to private businesses across the country so that we could house our employees.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

With everything you know, do you think one of your assistants went behind your back when you were minister of Public Works and Government Services. I am thinking of Mr. Côté in particular.

[Michael Fortier]

No, I don't believe so.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

In that case, why was he dismissed?

[Michael Fortier]

Mr. Côté left in the wake of revelations of his relationship with Ms. Couillard. Mr. Côté knows very well that I would have liked him to tell me that since it was important at the time for that to be known to the minister.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Mr. Coderre. Thank you, Mr. Fortier.

Before I turn it over to Madame Bourgeois, Mr. Calkins would wish me to point out that the food and drinks at the back of the room are for the exclusive use of the members. Thank you.

Ms. Bourgeois, you have eight minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good morning, Mr. Fortier. Thank you for being here.

This morning, we are trying to shed light on certain allegations. Your time at the Department of Public Works and Government Services is extremely important. You were in your position from February 6, 2006 to June 24, 2008. It is important to point out that you were in your position for two consecutive years.

Mr. Fortier, you said earlier that you had attended a few cocktail fundraisers with contractors when you were minister. That leads me to ask you one question: are you familiar with that restaurant, the Mas des Oliviers?

[Michael Fortier]

No, I don't believe I've ever been there. That's not to take anything away from that restaurant. I don't mean to judge it from a gastronomical standpoint, but I've never been there.

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

All right. Did you know that certain contractors who won contracts from your department made contributions to your party while you were minister of Public Works and Government Services? Were you aware of that?

[Michael Fortier]

No.