Evidence of meeting #40 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 sauvé.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you, Ms. Bourgeois.
Thank you, Minister.
Mr. Gourde and Mr. Holder, you have eight minutes.
November 30th, 2010 / 8:55 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
To begin with, I would like to thank the minister for taking the time to meet with us. We know that ministers all have very heavy schedules and that they have to make a huge effort to find some time. So, the committee appreciates your being here. I also want to thank the members opposite for agreeing to start 15 minutes earlier.
You mentioned that the committee's goal was to examine the awarding of government contracts by Public Works and Government Services Canada for the renovation of the West Block. I think people would do well to remember that, because, unfortunately, some of our colleagues seem to have forgotten. We are at the point where we are using the committee's time and resources to talk about a stolen coat. It seems to me that things are going off the rails in this committee.
Minister, what was your role in the awarding of contracts to renovate the West Block?
Conservative
Christian Paradis Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
First of all, the awarding of contracts falls within the purview of officials. It is a process which is purely administrative, and is also fair and transparent. In terms of the policy, there is a long-term plan to renovate the parliamentary precinct. Cabinet issues the directives in five-year blocks and the budgets are approved on that basis. Once that has happened, the operational process of awarding contracts begins. Officials are responsible for awarding contracts. Their job is to ensure that we get the best value for money for taxpayers. These are very large contracts. We are currently renovating buildings that are part of our heritage, but at the same time, we want to be sure that we get the best possible value for money. Officials administer the entire process.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Minister, what happened with this contract when you were minister?
Conservative
Christian Paradis Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
The contract that has been alluded to was awarded before I became minister. As I said in my opening statement, it was awarded in May, 2008, but I was appointed to cabinet on June 25, 2008. In about April, 2009, officials from my department briefed me, telling me that there were delays, that there were problems and that, given the terms of the contract, they could, and should, terminate that contract. And that is what happened.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Was there political interference in that contract?
Conservative
Christian Paradis Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Absolutely not, and I was made aware of the situation by officials from my department. Those are normal briefings. The minister has to know what is going on in these cases, but the decision always rests with officials.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
The officials who appeared before us said they had made the decision to award that contract. Is that your position as well?
Conservative
Christian Paradis Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Yes, that's true. As I already stated, I was not the Minister of Public Works and Government Services when the contract was awarded. With all contracts, the process is administered by officials. My job is to ensure that that is done in a fair, open and transparent manner. There are tools at that level. For some contracts, an equity supervisor may be appointed to oversee the process from beginning to end. More often than not, officials are in charge of just about everything. When the time comes to report to the minister by means of briefings, such as in the example I just gave, an entire file has been prepared, so that all the information is there.
My job was to ensure that, in terms of the policy, the basic directives were there. As I said, departmental officials handled everything at the operational level per se.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
At this committee, Minister, we have heard a number of names: Broccolini, Sauvé, Côté, Prud'Homme, and Varin. Are there any personal friends among the people I've named?
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Do you know at least one of these individuals?
Conservative
Christian Paradis Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
I know them, as I explained earlier to Mr. Goddard. I became acquainted with Mr. Côté when he worked in Mr. Fortier's office, when I was a member of Parliament. He was part of his political staff. I saw Mr. Varin once, at the cocktail party fundraiser on January 19. That is the only discussion I had with him that I can recall. The only discussion I had with Mr. Sauvé also took place on that occasion. What was the other name you mentioned?
Conservative
Conservative
Christian Paradis Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
I saw Mr. Prud'Homme, as I said earlier, maybe twice before the cocktail party. The last time I saw him was at that cocktail party.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
The difference between you and Mr. Coderre is striking. After all, Mr. Varin testified under oath, right here in this room, that he and Mr. Coderre were friends who had “a good time together”.
Minister, as a minister of the Crown, you say that there was no political interference on your part. All the credible witnesses who appeared here before you—
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
On a point of order.
I would just add that he didn't agree with me. Thank you.