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.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Let's go back to the renovations. Do you remember why the criteria were changed at the last minute?
9:20 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
No.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
How would a change like that be effected? Who would talk to whom for that to happen?
9:20 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
You'd have to ask the department. You're really reaching deep into the department in terms of how they deal with contracts and how they award contracts.
9:20 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
How long have I known him? Ten years.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Okay.
You've said that you did not know about his relationship with Madame Couillard, right?
9:20 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
That's correct.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Have you learned since then of other relationships he might have had that you didn't know about at the time and that were significant?
9:20 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
Since I've left politics, or...?
9:20 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
Since he left? No, I'm not aware of any.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Do you know about any relationship that he or Mr. Hubert Pichet might have had with Gilles Varin?
9:20 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
No.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Did Mr. Côté or others of your staff often meet with contractors?
9:20 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
No.
9:20 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
No.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
9:20 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
They were discouraged from it, and if they did, they were supposed to report it, so I don't think they met with lobbyists. I didn't meet with lobbyists, and so I don't think they met with lobbyists, to be honest.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
So if an industry group, for instance in the province of Quebec or in the Montreal area, had a concern and wanted to talk to your office, they wouldn't be able to talk to them?
9:20 a.m.
Former Minister of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual
Well, if a museum of fine arts is planning renovations and they come by my office, are they lobbyists?
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Let's say a company; oftentimes a company will hire a lobbyist, and they will come with the lobbyist and they—
9:20 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
That didn't happen at all? It's a little hard to believe, frankly.