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.
10:15 a.m.
As an Individual
Be specific. Your question was “What does he do?” It was not “Where does he do it?”
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
No, no. Thank you. That was my next question, you see?
Was the minister's office involved in the distribution of contracts for the repairs to the West Block?
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Was the minister's office involved in awarding contracts for the renovation of the north tower of the West Block?
10:15 a.m.
As an Individual
I don't know what all my colleagues in the office in Ottawa were doing on a daily basis, but my understanding, referring to what your colleague said, was that nobody would interfere in the attribution of the contract.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
You're relying on the comments of my colleagues on the other side of the table in saying that. I'll hand over to Mr. Coderre.
10:15 a.m.
As an Individual
Which I understand is based on what the civil servants have said.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
What is increasingly clear, Mr. Côté, is that our Conservative friends on the other side of the table organized your appearance, prepared you and arranged for you to be given the brief. I'm beginning to think that the appearance of certain other Conservative witnesses who have come here was orchestrated and organized as well.
So, Mr. Gourde, you should apologize for having prepared a witness because that's totally unacceptable. That's the problem!
10:15 a.m.
As an Individual
Unless I'm mistaken, Mr. Gourde, I don't remember us speaking before today's meeting.
10:15 a.m.
An hon. member
Oui.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
My point of order is, Mr. Chair. I think it's incumbent upon you to hold back committee members from accusing other committee members of stuff that there is no foundation for. It's absolutely beyond the pale that Denis Coderre would accuse one of my colleagues of undertaking something that there is absolutely no indication...no testimony or evidence for. Simply to accuse is absolutely irresponsible, but I think obviously the member is still sore from last meeting.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you, Mr. Warkentin, for that issue. I do recollect other members making accusations to other members, and unfortunately, if one is loud, then the next one gets loud as well. So I'll caution Mr. Coderre: could we deal with the witness, because we have a witness here? And conversations between members are not always that helpful.
So absent any other point of order, I'm going to ask Mr.—oh, you're okay.
Mr. Gourde.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Thank you very much.
Just to reassure my colleague, Mr. Coderre, this is the first time in my life that I've met Mr. Côté.