Evidence of meeting #133 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was software.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Okay, thank you.
We'll start a speakers list.
I have Mrs. Vignola.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Good morning.
We agree with the motion in general, but I'd like to make a few changes.
We agree that we need to look at the acquisition of a $9‑million condo for the Consul General in New York City. Generally speaking, to the average person, $9 million represents nine working lives. That's significant. It's taxpayer funds, so it's important that we look at this. In the context of a federal budget, it may seem like a drop in the bucket, but it's a significant amount nevertheless.
So here's the motion with the amendments I am suggesting to my colleagues. It will be sent out to them in a moment if they haven't already received it:
Given the government has spent 9 million dollars of taxpayer money on an apartment in Manhattan, New York for the Consul General, the committee order Global Affairs Canada to produce a list, within 14 days of this motion being adopted, of all properties including the addresses and listing prices of those that were visited or considered for purchase for the official residence of the consulate general in New York, and the committee call the following witnesses to testify: the Consul General of Canada in New York, U.S.A., Tom Clark, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and other departmental representatives, representatives from Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Treasury Board, as well as a panel of New York City real estate agents, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, if the committee deems it necessary after hearing the other witnesses. And that these meetings be held between August 19 and August 27, 2024, inclusively, and that apart from these three additional meetings, the committee hold no additional meetings before September 9, 2024, with the exception of meetings pursuant to Standing Order 106(4).
The wording refers to the meeting that was scheduled for today, but we can remove that part because it's null and void. So it would end after the reference to meetings requested pursuant to Standing Order 106(4).
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thanks.
I'll start a speaking order on the amendment. I have Mr. Brock and then Mr. Ehsassi.
Is your hand up for the amendment or the original motion?
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
No, sorry, I'm not asking you. Is your hand up for the motion or the amendment?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Okay, so you'll be up after Mr. Brock, but before we go to Mr. Brock, just to confirm, Mrs. Vignola, basically your amendment would add:
And that these meetings be held between August 19th...and that apart from these 3 additional meetings, the Committee hold no additional meetings before September 9, 2024, with the exception of the 106.4 meetings....
Is that correct? Are you just adding that one line?
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Yes, the amendment makes that change, among other things. It adds another one so that the minister can be called to appear if the committee deems it necessary after the established meetings. We've done that with other ministers in the past. The amendment also specifies that the apartment is in Manhattan. It's more specific than saying that it's “on Billionaires Row”, which could be anywhere.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Perfect, thank you. I just wanted to clarify that. I appreciate that.
Mr. Brock, go ahead, followed by Mr. Ehsassi on the amendment.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Thank you, Chair.
At this juncture, the Conservatives will be voting in favour of the amendment.
Owing to the technical difficulties experienced by my colleague Mrs. Block and to complete the record, I wish to finish her thoughts.
Whether it's their friends at McKinsey getting special treatment and receiving government contracts, or former Liberal MPs and future Liberal leader hopefuls like Frank Baylis, whose company got a massive contract during the pandemic for ventilators that went unused and cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars only to be sold as scrap metal, we've also seen the complete lack of spending controls on major procurements like arrive scam, an app that started with an $80,000 initial price tag but ballooned to at least $60 million, according to the Auditor General.
Every step along the way, this government has tried to cover up these consequences of their failed governance. They voted against the audit of the ArriveCAN app, swearing that there was nothing to find and they swore there was nothing to find with the McKinsey contracting, yet, each time, malfeasance was found and has revealed a troubling pattern. Right before the House rose for the summer recess, it was reported that the government was purchasing a building right on Sparks Street. No practical reason for purchasing this building was given in the articles, but they did note that—surprise, surprise—a good friend—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
I'm sorry, Mr. Brock, but we have a point of order.
Mr. Jowhari, go ahead.
Liberal
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
My apologies, Chair. I believe we are debating the amendment to Mrs. Vignola's motion. I'm trying to understand the relevance. I just want to follow...and if it's relevant, I'm sure you'll allow it. If we need to go back and focus on the amendment, I would really appreciate that direction from you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Mr. Jowhari does have a point; we are debating the amendment, not the original motion.
Perhaps you could just stick with the amendment, please, sir.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
No practical reason for purchasing this building was given in the articles, but they did note that—surprise, surprise—a good friend of the Prime Minister, Michael Pitfield, had part ownership of that building.
Again, Conservatives are voting in favour of the amendment.
Of all the buildings they could have purchased in Ottawa, they happened to buy one that directly benefits a close friend of the Prime Minister.
Again, Conservatives are voting for the amendment.
Now, in New York, one of Trudeau's hand-picked diplomats—
Liberal
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
Mr. Chair, you did point out correctly and accurately that this is about the amendment. Everything that the member is saying currently is irrelevant.
Thank you.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I did. It's all relevant. I have 30 seconds. Do they want to continue to interrupt me?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
They don't want to talk about Pitfield, because Anna Gainey wants to be leader.
Conservative
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Thank you.
Now in New York, one of Trudeau's hand-picked diplomats just got a big upgrade in his residence. Trudeau has found it prudent to purchase an apartment on Billionaires' Row for $9 million.
Again, Conservatives are voting in favour of the amendment.
This is how Trudeau's chosen elite live high on the taxpayer's dime at a time when Canadians are struggling to pay their mortgages or their rent.
Again, Conservatives are voting in favour of the amendment.
This is at a time when our country is seeing more tent cities cropping up across the country and at a time when two million-plus Canadians are going to food banks to feed their families, and, according to the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, more hurt is on the way with more defaults on the horizon as many Canadians are facing mortgage renewals over the next few years.
Again, Conservatives are voting in favour of the amendment.
Frankly, at a time when Canadians are living through housing hell, Trudeau is more interested in buying for and buying from his friends over delivering for Canadians. Conservatives believe that Canadians deserve answers, which is why Mrs. Block brought forward this motion, which calls on the government....
I can't complete her thoughts on that, but that's my intervention.
Thank you, Chair.
Conservative
Liberal
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
On the topic of amendments, we certainly support the thrust of the amendments that have been proposed. I was wondering if I could make some changes just to make sure that this committee can do its work properly.
The first one would be—