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.
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
--it would of course be libellous. Just for my information, so I understand his questions, has any of this been proven or is it just Mr. Martin's choice of language?
9:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you for that, Mr. Harris. That's not a point of order.
Mr. Martin, please continue.
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Well, I'm interested more in some of your other co-conspirators in this type of kickback arrangement. The guy Bernard Côté...what is your relationship with Bernard Côté?
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. Martin has just used the term “co-conspirators” as if it's fact. Mr. Martin knows he has immunity in this committee, but I would suggest that he use just a little more protocol than what he's using.
9:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you for that helpful suggestion.
Mr. Martin, you're free to continue. You have about a minute left.
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Sauvé's testimony is that Bernard Côté played a big role in the bribe that won Mr. Sauvé the contract. Tell me about your relationship with Bernard Côté.
9:45 a.m.
As an Individual
I have no relationship with Mr. Côté beside knowing he was involved in the Jeanne-Le Ber riding association.
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
So on the donations, it's funny that Mr. Sauvé made two political donations that year, one to that riding association and one to yours, both for the maximum amount of dollars, right at the time when he was trying to beg his way onto a bidders list where he didn't properly belong, to get on the pre-qualified list.
You have to understand that I'm not trying to be rude to you, sir. We're trying to defend the Canadian taxpayer's purse, and people here are taking advantage of it, through, apparently, some kind of collusion and a corruption network, where if you pay a $140,000 bribe you get onto a pre-qualified bidders list, and Mr. Varin spreads that bribe around within Conservative circles. And you're a Conservative, so it's appropriate that we ask you those questions. You're right in the thick of it.
9:45 a.m.
As an Individual
--but I'm not involved with anything, so I'm happy to answer your question.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you, Mr. Prud'Homme.
Thank you, Mr. Martin.
Mr. Regan, five minutes, please.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Prud'Homme, I think it has been established that you are not a Conservative by accident. You have been a Conservative since 1977. Do you agree that you are a long-standing Conservative and that it's not by accident?
9:50 a.m.
Gilles Prud'homme
It's by conviction. I like the policies of the Conservative Party.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
December 7th, 2010 / 9:50 a.m.
Gilles Prud'homme
I don't know Marc Carrière.
9:50 a.m.
Gilles Prud'homme
I met him once, in Drummondville, on November 8, at an election debriefing session. That's it.
9:50 a.m.
Gilles Prud'homme
I have met him three times: once at our cocktail party, once when the minister gave a speech to the Metropolitan Montreal Board of Trade and once at an activity for another association whose name escapes me. That's it.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
9:50 a.m.
Gilles Prud'homme
Yes.