Before.
Evidence of meeting #38 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 varin.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #38 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 varin.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
At no time, then, did you meet with officials prior to winning the contract.
President, LM Sauvé
Calls were made to the office of Robert Wright, to find out when the call for tenders would be launched, and to position ourselves to receive the specifications so that we wouldn't miss the date.
President, LM Sauvé
I believe it was someone from our office. It may have been Éric Beaumier; I don't recall.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Fine.
Now let's talk about when you won the contract. It was noted that there were changes made three times before the contract was awarded. Do you see a cause-and-effect relationship between the interventions made by Mr. Varin and others, and the fact that you were able to secure the contract?
President, LM Sauvé
I don't know. I think one of the changes was related to the fact that we have been doing our own masonry work for almost 60 years now. It's in our blood.
One of the changes requested was that we be able to do that work. We knew there was a trend toward monopolies on Parliament Hill. Indeed, there was one company that was very well known. We asked for that change because, after all, we are a masonry company. In my opinion, that change had the potential to give our bid an edge by allowing us to develop a better budget approach and offer a better price for taxpayers. As for the other two changes, I don't have an answer to that.
Liberal
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Good morning, Mr. Sauvé. Thank you for being here today. I want to say that I am very grateful to you for your courage in agreeing to come here to Parliament Hill to tell us exactly what is going on between our walls. Thank you very much.
I would like to begin by asking you this: after securing the contract on Parliament Hill, you organized a cocktail party. Are you in the habit of organizing that kind of event to thank the people who help you win contracts?
President, LM Sauvé
I have organized a few of them. For example, I organized one for a person I consider to be a friend, Mr. André Boisclair. When I was still quite young, I attended several cocktail parties, because my father was very active in the Liberal Party of Canada and the Quebec Liberal Party. So, from an early age, I saw how the machine worked, but it was not something I was in the habit of doing.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
With respect to the cocktail party that Mr. Paradis attended, who told you you should organize a cocktail party to thank these people?
President, LM Sauvé
It was a man by the name of Gilles Prud'Homme, who was an organizer in the riding of Bourassa. He made it very clear that this would be helpful as a way of boosting the Conservative Party, because in Quebec, it was difficult for his members to collect money.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Did Mr. Prud'Homme suggest names of people who should be invited?
President, LM Sauvé
Mr. Prud'Homme had a small network. He suggested the names of a few people who came. I would say that most of them, with the exception of the ones who arrived unexpectedly in the course of the evening, attended as a result of calls that I and others had made, to ensure they would be there.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
You say that some people arrived unexpectedly. Were they invited by Mr. Prud'Homme or by Conservative Party people?
President, LM Sauvé
I don't know. I know that the Broccolini brothers, who have a very large construction company, were in attendance and monopolized the Minister practically the whole time he was there.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Were you able to discuss the contract you had been awarded with the Minister?
President, LM Sauvé
I talked to him for about 180 seconds, because that was all the time I was allowed. I had few opportunities to speak to him.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
I see.
And that infamous cocktail party took place at the Da Enrico restaurant. Do you know Mr. Da Enrico?
President, LM Sauvé
No, it was a pitiful place. It was in very bad taste. I did not choose it.
