Government Operations Committee on Nov. 30th, 2010

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Mr. Lemay. Your time is up.

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Just a minute. It's possible I helped out other riding associations. I would have to check that. That is in fact what we're talking about and regarding which you are attempting to make certain allegations.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, gentlemen.

Mr. Warkentin, for five minutes.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for being here. We appreciate your testimony this morning.

Today, it's another day, and it's a day that has characterized the general trend that we've seen in this committee. That's where the opposition, where they haven't been able to bring any facts to the table, go on these fishing expeditions and make all kinds of allegations, of which there is no general proof or any facts that would indicate that there are any problems within your purview or the conduct that you've undertaken.

Mr. Martin brought forward all kinds of allegations. He repeated a number of allegations that Mr. Sauvé had brought to this committee, but I think it's important that we recall the testimony of Mr. Sauvé, that in fact he said that there was no proof. He had made several allegations, but in his allegations there was absolutely no proof of those, and he couldn't provide any documents that would prove any of the allegations that he brought forward.

What we did learn was that in fact Mr. Sauvé was a bad general manager. He talked about his overruns, in terms of the cost of the St. James church. He talked about being let go from the Montreal city hall project. He also talked about not being able to get power hooked up at the West Block facility, as well as not managing to get latrines put up at the West Block project.

So I think, Minister, it's clear that Mr. Sauvé was not in a position to undertake the work that he had been given. Obviously his company's reputation preceded him, and when he took over, things started to fall apart. Unfortunately for him, things haven't turned out so well.

Minister, I do want to speak to the fact that the contract was taken away from LM Sauvé. I'm wondering what your involvement was in the removal of that contract. Obviously, we've heard why it was removed, but now I'm wondering if you could describe your involvement in the removal of that contract.

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Yes. As I said earlier, sometime in April 2009 I was briefed by the officials. The officials explained that there were serious concerns about delays and other problems with this contract. The way that the contract was shaped, they now had reason to simply cancel it, and this is exactly what happened. The file was quite complete and the contract was cancelled at that time.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Leading up to that removal of the contract, at that point in time, of course, the opposition would have us believe that you were fully aware that Mr. Sauvé had planned this fundraiser in Montreal.

Were you aware at that point...as these discussions of if or not the contract should removed, that he had planned that benefit?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

No. When I saw him, he told me that he had a contract at the fundraiser, and I told him, “Good for you”. The discussion was quite short.

He seems now to be not happy about that. This is what I heard from the last testimony.

This is funny, because at the beginning here, the supposition here is that there was.... Now people ask if there was a kickback or whatever. Mr. Sauvé said publicly, at the beginning, when he had this contract, that it was free of political interference.

He came here, under oath, saying that now there was political interference.

Then after that, with that coat story, he said he was almost being extorted.

That thing is just nonsense. It's nonsense.

The question here, I think, is this: was there any political interference? And from the very beginning in all of those stories, all of the facts demonstrate that there was no political interference in any contracts.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Going back to the fundraiser, it's important that what we've heard at this committee is testimony that people who went there had no intention to talk about contracts. As a matter of fact, we heard from one of the architects who said they were there because they supported the government's position on Israel.

So you can see that there was a divergent group of people. Obviously, the opposition can make all kinds of allegations as to what the intentions of those people were, but we have heard testimony that contradicts what the opposition has been up to.

I do appreciate it, Minister.

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Mr. Warkentin.

We have about two minutes left, two minutes for Mr. Coderre.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Minister, did you discuss this case with the police?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Yes, I have a police report that was filed—

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Was your—

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

—by my employee, for the reasons I mentioned earlier. I was not available. Mr. Mailhot filed it on January 22.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

That's fine, but I'm not talking about the coat.

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

I thought you were talking about my coat.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

No, I'm talking about the renovation contract.

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

As regards the renovation contract, as I already said, my officials informed me that there were serious delays in April. As a result, the contract was cancelled.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

That is not my question. Did people from your office talk to the RCMP after those problems arose? Were you contacted?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

What problems are you referring to?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Did the RCMP contact you about the problems relating to LM Sauvé and the renovation contracts?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

They didn't call me, nor did they call my office.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You were never contacted?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

No, nor did I have a briefing with my officials in that respect either. The briefing occurred when the time came to cancel the contract in April of 2009, for the reasons I've already cited.