Evidence of meeting #150 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A video is available from Parliament.
3:45 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
The mandate of Public Services and Procurement Canada is to get the best value for tax dollars in an open and transparent process. National Defence's mandate is to get the best possible equipment for our brave men and women in uniform. ISED's mandate is to get the best possible jobs and ITBs for Canadians in terms of economic benefit. Treasury Board plays a role in terms of ensuring best value for money, but also in terms of a challenge function for all government expenditures.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Minister, I will move on to my next question.
Did the cabinet committee on defence procurement, which you are part of or chair, meet on November 19, 2015, to discuss Project Resolve?
3:45 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
I don't recall exact dates of cabinet committees, but we can certainly—
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
It would have been two weeks after you were named Treasury Board president.
3:45 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
Yes, we formed government in early November, as you'll recall, and I think cabinet was sworn in on November 4. That's the point at which I became President of the Treasury Board.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
3:45 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
I sat on.... In fact, it's a matter of public record that I've been the vice-chair.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
3:45 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
I've been vice-chair of that. I'm not going to speak on matters of cabinet confidence. You'll understand that there are cabinet confidences that apply to cabinet meetings, and I'm not going to violate those.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Okay. Why was the cabinet committee on defence procurement ultimately disbanded?
3:45 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
You'd have to ask that question of the Prime Minister, who makes those decisions in terms of cabinet committees.
In the last changes made to cabinet committees, Treasury Board actually took on additional responsibilities, including, for instance, in the oversight of the development of the new pay system, the next-generation pay system, and also some additional responsibilities in terms of defence procurement.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
On the discussion to delay Project Resolve, of course we're all aware of that. Did that stem from any input, advice or information you received from private sector officials?
3:45 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
I'm sorry. What was that?
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Did the discussion to delay Project Resolve stem from conversations outside of cabinet with private sector officials?
3:45 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
Actually, I've already addressed this in the House of Commons—
3:45 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
I will say very clearly that as a new government with a $670-million untendered contract, we had a responsibility, which I exercise as President of the Treasury Board, to do due diligence and to ensure value for money. That is something—
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Did you do that based on any information you received from private sector officials?
3:50 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
I did this in my capacity and my responsibility as President of the Treasury Board.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Was any of it due to input or information received from private sector officials?
3:50 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
I was briefed by my department on this issue, and I've also said in the House of Commons—you can check Hansard—that the only interaction I had during that period of time with, for instance, Irving shipyards, was being copied on a letter that was sent to two other ministers.
I was copied on a letter that was sent to two other ministers.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Did you interfere with any other contracts that had been granted under the previous government?
The reason I ask is that we have about a 2,000-page ATIP that I'd be happy to table. It's to your briefing papers. I'm reading from the overview of the legislative mandate of the TBS president. It doesn't really discuss anything about specific interference or opening up previous contracts, etc. You did that as your role to interfere with Project Resolve. Did you do that to any other contracts that had been signed by the previous government?
3:50 p.m.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
Mr. McCauley, Treasury Board's responsibility on expenditure management extends on—
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Did you do that to any other contracts, or was Project Resolve the only one that you got involved in?