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.
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
We are colleagues, going back to 1998 when I ran for the Progressive Conservative leadership. We have known each other over the years, both of us having worked in the banking industry.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
I did indeed.
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
I did not.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
No. Okay.
You were, of course, the hand-picked man in Montreal for Mr. Harper, as a minister--
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
The “hand-picked man in Montreal for Mr. Harper”: that's a way of putting it.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Well, he appointed you to the Senate and made you a minister for Montreal, essentially. You were a fundraiser for him in his own leadership campaign.
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
No, I was not.
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
Absolutely not.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
That's correct.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Of course.
There have been media reports suggesting that while you were minister there was a pattern of interference in contracts and RFPs. You're suggesting these are not true, but some of these reports suggest meddling and manipulating Public Works contracts involving everything from real estate to IT work to Hill renovations.
Did you have the Prime Minister's blessing in terms of the work that you were doing?
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
With respect to those allegations that you've brought up yet again, I will tell you that I did not get involved in awarding contracts. I think if you were to question current or past senior executives of the department, they would so confirm to you.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Did you attend the infamous fundraiser in 2009 at a Montreal restaurant called Da Enrico?
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
No.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Did you collect money from any Quebec construction firms for your own organization or association locally, for the Conservative Party, or for Mr. Harper?
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
Did I collect money, or did I raise money, for my own...?
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
For my own riding, there were people raising money for me, yes.
10:05 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
Well, you have the list in front of you. Some of them are from that industry, just as there are some from many other industries. Monsieur Coderre recited a few.
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
And the people from those companies never talked to you about contracts?