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.
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
I didn't meet with lobbyists. Look at the register. They needed to report these meetings. I don't think there were any meetings with lobbyists reported.
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
No.
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
I don't think so.
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
Gilles Prud'Homme? No.
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Have you ever attended a fundraising cocktail or fundraising event organized around recipients of a specific set of government contracts?
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
No.
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
So when you were Minister of Public Works, you didn't have any of those kinds of cocktails?
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
Well, I had those in my riding, and I attended, I think, two—
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
It's organized by somebody—
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
—a specific set of contracts, like the one with Mr. Paradis. We know that a bunch of contractors who were working on the renovations were—
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
I'm hesitating not because I know it for a fact, but I did speak at two or three. I was asked to speak at those, but I don't know who organized those.
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
November 16th, 2010 / 9:25 a.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Fortier, I'm listening to you, and it seems you set up a firewall between you, your team at the department when you were minister and departmental officials. I'm going to try to clarify that with you.
When you took up your position as minister, you were briefed on the works that had to be done. In that briefing, was the RFP procedure for contracts explained to you?
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
It wasn't done for the renovations on the Hill. One of the first briefings concerned the operation of MERX and how contracts are awarded. It focused on RFPs in general, but not specifically on those concerning Parliament Hill.
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
The first briefing concerns each of the classes of contracts that are awarded.
9:25 a.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
All right, but we are here for a purpose, so we're going to try to limit ourselves to the Hill.
You had a briefing, as we know. So you knew what was going to happen; you were informed about the moves, etc. Did anyone tell you about how they proceed when issuing RFPs? Did you ask any questions? Were you informed?
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
During a briefing, I generally ask questions and try to understand how things work.
9:25 a.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Were you told that some red lights might go on and that you might be informed if contractors did not seem to be up to the mark?
9:25 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
I might have been told that.
