Government Operations Committee on Nov. 23rd, 2010

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Did you specifically discuss your contract with Mr. Côté?

[Paul Sauvé]

Yes.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Did he tell you he would discuss it with his Minister?

[Paul Sauvé]

I do not recall that he said that.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Let's talk about the attempt to secure a refund for the coat. You only had 180 seconds. Others had 3,600 seconds of ectasy, but you only got 180. Did you discuss your contact with Mr. Carrière? Is there someone in Mr. Paradis' office who is aware of your--

[Paul Sauvé]

Since I had not had Mr. Paradis' ear, given that he was monopolized by the Broccolini brothers and was busy eating a plate of pasta at the back of the room, on a picnic table, I spoke to his aide—the person who called me back the following day to talk about the coat. I told him about the major problems we were having exercising our rights, as Quebeckers and contractors, on Parliament Hill. Our methods, which originate in Europe and elsewhere, were not at all welcome.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

In your opinion, had Minister Paradis been told about your contract by Marc Carrière?

[Paul Sauvé]

I hope so.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Do you think that Gilles Prud'Homme, who asked you to organize the cocktail party as a way of expressing your gratitude, has close ties to the construction industry?

[Paul Sauvé]

I had the feeling he was a peddler of sorts. I believe he had some contacts in the industry.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

So, you think he has contacts in the construction industry.

[Paul Sauvé]

Yes, absolutely.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

In your PowerPoint presentation, you alluded to a 3% kickback. As a means of showing their gratitude, contractors are expected to organize and participate in fundraising activities. So you had to pay 3% of the $8.9 million contract.

[Paul Sauvé]

That was Mr. Varin's calculation, yes.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

That is what the $300,000 was for, correct?

[Paul Sauvé]

Yes, that's correct.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You paid $140,000.

[Paul Sauvé]

That's correct.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You talked about the ARCOP company. As you see it, does the Conservative government have a system in place for awarding PWGSC contracts, particularly on Parliament Hill?

[Paul Sauvé]

The system is a complete aberration.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

I don't want to know whether it's an aberration; I just want to know if you think there is a system.

[Paul Sauvé]

Yes, I believe so.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

The ARCOP people are from Ontario—specifically, Toronto.

[Paul Sauvé]

The ARCOP company is based in Montreal, but it has offices all across the country.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Were you told that the Conservative thank-you club was organizing other fundraiser cocktail parties?