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.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you, Ms. Bourgeois.
Thank you, Mr. Côté.
Mr. Gourde, you have eight minutes.
December 9th, 2010 / 9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Côté, thank you for being here this morning, even though it is hard to understand how you're being here is relevant to the committee's studies. I apologize on behalf of the committee for the lack of respect shown by some of my colleagues. That's frankly disgraceful. I hope you'll get an apology later on during the committee meeting.
Some people seem not to understand the role of the ministers' office in Montreal. You briefly spoke about it in your presentation. Can you explain to us what your role was and how you worked with stakeholders, and so on?
9:55 a.m.
As an Individual
As I mentioned, my mandate was to handle files in the greater Montreal area. Everyone knows the number of priorities the mayor had in Montreal. I believe they could be counted in the hundreds. I must admit to you that the City of Montreal kept us very busy. As you know, there is a dynamic cultural environment in Montreal. They also kept us busy with regard to financial support for a number of their projects. Most of the time was spent on that.
In addition, the minister's office also had projects, such as the transfer of surplus federal government lands around the Port of Montreal to the Canada Lands Company for development. That's an initiative that Minister Fortier introduced and that his colleague, Mr. Cannon, had accepted. We launched the project. It took a lot of time and energy not only to launch the project, but also to advertise it. The projects are finishing now, something we're very proud of.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
I would like to get a clear understanding of the role and important work of the office of the minister responsible for greater Montreal. Does the office cover an area, a number of constituencies or all of the city of Montreal and its suburbs?
10 a.m.
As an Individual
We felt that it was the greater Montreal area. According to Statistics Canada, that's the Montreal census metropolitan area. That included the southern suburbs, Montérégie, Montreal, Laval and the North Shore.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
We're talking about three million people here.
10 a.m.
As an Individual
According the Statistics Canada census, we're talking about 3.6 million people.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
The three or four people who work at the Montreal office and who represent more than three million people must have an enormous job to do to represent all those orphans, because there were no representatives taking care of them.
10 a.m.
As an Individual
As I said, we already had quite a lot on our plate with the City of Montreal.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Did any opposition party members communicate with the Montreal office to make requests or to push certain files in their constituencies?
10 a.m.
As an Individual
No. I don't remember receiving any requests from opposition members.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
You say that the federal members in Montreal don't handle their constituencies?
10 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
A good member usually handles at least some of his constituency's files. At the regional level, they often hold caucus meetings and try to move certain files forward.
10 a.m.
As an Individual
I believe most members in the Montreal area... The City of Montreal felt that it had a special liaison in the person of Michael Fortier. Files were directed to him.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
So what you're telling committee members is that the only party in Canada that handled the major issues of the greater Montreal area was the Conservative government.
10 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Monsieur Gourde, Monsieur Côté, we have a subject matter at hand here. We are straying somewhat from the subject matter. I'm perfectly prepared to allow your continuing line of questioning, but bear in mind that we do have a subject matter here.
10 a.m.
An hon. member
Has anybody got to it yet?
10 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Mr. Chairman, I would simply like to add that earlier the opposition asked some questions that were very much unrelated to the objectives of this meeting. We can restore some balance.
I personally want to thank you and to apologize for the lack of respect shown by some of my colleagues opposite.
I'll hand the floor over to my colleague.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Thank you very much.
I think the point the chair has made is a valid one, that nobody around this committee table has yet actually undertaken to ask questions relating to what we've been called as a committee to undertake, and that's to look into the awarding of contracts for the renovation of the parliamentary precinct.
Mr. Côté, were you involved in the tendering process for the renovation contracts, or did you work with the renovation contractors?
10 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
So you were not responsible for choosing who would be working on the West Block, particularly?