Government Operations Committee on Nov. 23rd, 2010

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

[Inaudible—Editor]...committee, I know about the motion. Possibly you should raise that under other business at the end of the committee.

Thank you, Mr. Martin.

Mr. Regan, for five minutes, please.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

And Mr. Sauvé, thank you for coming.

I also want to add my apologies to Mr. Dorval.

Mr. Sauvé, you've indicated previously that several weeks before Christian Paradis became Minister of Public Works, Mr. Varin indicated to you that was going to happen. Is that correct? He was aware of it ahead of time?

[Paul Sauvé]

I'm sorry, sir, I did not hear you.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

You've indicated in the past that Mr. Varin told you several weeks before our cabinet shuffle that Mr. Fortier was leaving and that Mr. Paradis would be the new Minister of Public Works. Is that right?

[Paul Sauvé]

Varin did indicate at that point that there was a shuffle and that there was a change of Minister of Public Works, yes.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

And did he indicate that Paradis would be the new minister?

[Paul Sauvé]

I'm not sure if he did. He seemed very privy to the fact that there was a shuffle and that Mr. Fortier was leaving his function. He did indicate that it would most likely be a minister from Quebec.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Okay. Would you please provide us with a copy of all your e-mails with Public Works?

[Paul Sauvé]

Sir?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Can you provide the committee with copies of your e-mails back and forth to Public Works?

[Paul Sauvé]

I'm sure we could.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Thank you very much.

Now, in terms of what Mr. Varin did, does that sort of fall within your definition of the word “lobbying”?

[Paul Sauvé]

Yes.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Thank you.

Who told you that you should go to see Mr. Varin because he was the guy to see?

[Paul Sauvé]

We had a board member called Claude Sarrazin, who was a Conservative, I believe, at least in spirit, who requested us to contact Gilles Varin, and brought him to my attention, to my office.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Now, in terms of where the money went, would Mr. Sarrazin have gotten any of the money you paid?

[Paul Sauvé]

No. Board members at that time were paid an honorarium for their attendance at our different board functions over the year, but I do not believe it was part and parcel of those payments.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Okay, thank you.

After you got the contract, Mr. Varin indicated to you that you ought to organize a fundraising cocktail event for the Conservative Party to thank the government for this contract. Is that correct?

[Paul Sauvé]

Prud'Homme is the one who suggested there would perhaps be one or more activities that had to do with fundraising, that the first one should be in Bourassa, and that the honourable Minister of Public Works should attend.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

And this was essentially to thank the Conservative Party for this contract.

[Paul Sauvé]

Yes.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

At the time, what role did Gilles Prud'homme play in the Conservative riding association in Bourassa?

[Paul Sauvé]

That's a very good question. He presented himself to me as a party organizer, authorized to collect money for the Conservative Party of Canada. I didn't really ask any questions. He seemed to be involved in the election campaign in the riding of Bourassa, with a lady whose name I've forgotten and who was defeated. He was the spokesperson on funding in Quebec.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

So Gilles Prud'Homme was one of Gilles Varin's contacts in the Conservative Party. Is that correct?

[Paul Sauvé]

Mr. Regan, I apologize, but....