Evidence of meeting #42 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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Gilles Prud'Homme  As an Individual

9:15 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

I am telling you what happened.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Are you saying that Mr. Sauvé is a liar?

9:20 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

What I'm saying is that I did not tell Mr. Sauvé that the evening event would be organized as some kind of thank you for the contracts. First, I didn't know he had been awarded contracts. What he was talking to me about wasn't the contract in issue here. He wanted to convey the message that he wanted to build a masonry school in Sorel-Tracy, that the municipality seemed to be behind the project. Initially, he wanted to do it in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, but the borough was not prepared to issue zoning permits, and so on. So the project had to be in Sorel-Tracy and he wanted to promote that idea. That is what was of most concern to him.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Mr. Prud'Homme, you say that you have no connections with the construction industry, so why would you be talking about a masonry school? We talked about a benefit event in Bourassa riding at Mr. Padulo's restaurant...

9:20 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

That was his project. He told me what he wanted to do. Don't change the words. That's your specialty, putting words in people's mouths.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Mr. Prud'Homme...

9:20 a.m.

As an Individual

Gilles Prud'Homme

You have trouble with your own words.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Mr, Chair, I would like the witness to be called to order. I am asking questions and he has an obligation to answer. As well, he has no respect for Parliament, since he arrived at 9:15 a.m.. So I would like the witness to answer the questions and not exploit his own immunity.

I would like to know why you talked about masonry with this person when you have nothing to do with that, according to you.

9:20 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

I didn't talk about it. He mentioned to me that he wanted to build a masonry school. He is entitled to explain to me what he wants to do and introduce himself to me. He described what he was doing and what his business was, that's all.

We had lunch together, he explained to me in the course of a conversation who he is, and I explained to him who I am. That's all.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

That is exactly why we invited you: we want to know who you are, Mr. Prud'Homme.

Do you know Bernard Côté?

9:20 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

I know Bernard Côté. I knew him because he worked in the Jeanne-Le Ber Conservative association.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

In what capacity?

9:20 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

I don't know whether he was the official agent or the secretary-treasurer, whatever.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

He was the official agent until when?

9:20 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

I have no idea.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

How do you know Henry Padulo?

9:20 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

I met Henry Padulo for the first time when I was doing election campaigns for former mayor Jean Doré, with the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Gilles Duceppe. He had a restaurant on rue Crémazie, the Da Enrico. He helped candidates in the Villeray area.

At about the same time, he came to help us during the 1988 Conservative campaign, since he was a resident of Ahuntsic, like me. When Nicole Roy-Arcelin ran against Raymond Garneau, he helped us. That was when I met Henri Padulo.

From 1990-1992 until the 2007-2008 election, I didn't meet him often. I met him because he came to Conservative Party activities around the 2008 election campaign.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Do you know Hubert Pichet?

9:20 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

Yes. He is Senator Pierre Claude Nolin's right arm. He stood as a candidate in La Pointe-de-l'Île riding, I believe.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Have you met Pierre Claude Nolin?

9:20 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

I know Pierre Claude Nolin very well. He is the best political organizer I had the opportunity to work with, when I was an organizer for the Progressive Conservative Party during the 1980s.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Do you know Claude Sarrazin?

9:20 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

No.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Explain something for me. You were involved a lot at the municipal level, is that right?

9:20 a.m.

Gilles Prud'homme

Yes, I worked on various municipal campaigns.