Evidence of meeting #43 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 summit.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Do you think the people asking the questions should swear on Bibles too?
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
9:35 a.m.
An hon. member
That's past tense.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
9:35 a.m.
Bernard Côté As an Individual
I, Bernard Côté, do solemnly, sincerely, and truthfully affirm and declare the taking of any oath is according to my religious beliefs unlawful. I do also solemnly, sincerely, and truly affirm and declare that the evidence I shall give on this examination shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
9:35 a.m.
As an Individual
Ladies and gentlemen, members of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, I would like to make an opening statement before taking any questions.
I had the great pleasure and privilege of working with the Honourable Michael Fortier from April 2006 to June 2008 as director of his Montreal office in the context of his duties as Minister responsible for Greater Montreal.
I worked at the minister's regional office located in Old Montreal.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Please pardon me, Mr. Côté.
Translation is having trouble keeping up with you. They don't have a text of your remarks
in English or in French.
Do you have any other copies?
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
If you could just be merciful to the translation and be a little slower—
9:35 a.m.
As an Individual
As I was saying, I worked at the minister's regional office located in Old Montreal.
My first reason for accepting the position was to advance the files that would enable the greater Montreal area to accelerate its development in the interests of all its citizens.
I am very proud to have contributed to the execution of a number of important files such as the transfer of surplus federal lands to the Canada Lands Company for the development of Montreal's New Harbourfront, construction of the Quartier des spectacles, the expansion of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, and the announcement of the new Planétarium de Montréal.
Previously, before joining Minister Fortier's office, I had worked in commercial real estate for 18 years as a real estate broker and real property and real property portfolio manager. I also worked for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, which has been the Conservative Party of Canada since 1980.
With the appointment of Michael Fortier as Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada and Minister responsible for Greater Montreal, the new Conservative government clearly showed that it wanted to establish a direct channel of communication so that the voices of the constituents of greater Montreal, like those of all the other large Canadian cities, could be heard at the highest level of the federal government.
To respond to that clearly expressed wish of the new government, our work, like that of every representative of an MP or minister, was thus to respond to the many calls from individuals, organizations and groups active in all the areas of activity in order to help, support and orient them in their efforts to deal with the federal government.
In a public place, I met Mr. Paul Sauvé, president of a Montreal firm specializing in masonry, a firm I knew by name as a result of my longstanding activities in commercial real estate.
During that interview, Mr. Sauvé told me about the trouble he appeared to be having breaking into the federal government market in Ottawa, whereas the volume of work in his area of expertise, masonry, was significant, with the renovations scheduled for the buildings on Parliament Hill.
As that matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and Government Services, it was not my responsibility. I conducted no further follow-up on this matter. That constituted my entire involvement in this file.
Thank you for your attention.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you for being here today, Mr. Côté. It's important for you to be here because your name has been mentioned a number of times and we like to speak directly with the persons concerned. That's why you are here. Mr. Sauvé talked about you, and we obviously have a lot of questions to ask about the situation regarding renovation contracts.
Above all, I would like to go back to your meeting at the Mas des Oliviers. How many times did you meet with Mr. Sauvé?
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Only once.
Mr. Sauvé reported what you had told him: "He said that things were going to change on Parliament Hill and that, with the new Conservative regime, it would be possible to obtain contracts." I asked him the question again. I told him: "So he told you that, with the Conservatives, Quebec would get its fair share and that you would have your contract." He answered that that's the way it was.
Is that correct?
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
You don't remember telling Mr. Sauvé that he would have a contract.
9:40 a.m.
As an Individual
It was a general discussion about the fact that he seemed to be having trouble breaking into the Ottawa market. It didn't concern any contract in particular.