Government Operations Committee on Aug. 20th, 2024

[Samantha Tattersall]

It's not a Treasury Board requirement.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Okay.

Another reference is to a “stunning powder room...finished in jewel onyx.”

Is that another requirement of the consul general?

[Samantha Tattersall]

For the Treasury Board Secretariat, that would not be a requirement.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Another reference is to “custom smoke gray oak floors in a parquet pattern”.

Would that be a requirement for Mr. Clark?

[Samantha Tattersall]

All of my answers to your questions will be no.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

The condo also includes three bedrooms, a study and four and a half bathrooms, including a master “bathroom clad in Italian white Venato marble” and featuring “a free-standing copper soaking tub handcrafted by William Holland, and custom bronze fixtures by P.E. Guerin.”

Again, I'll ask the same question that you can't answer about whether those are the consul general's, or Mr. Clark's, requirements. You talk about this being an investment and that “the lowest cost is not always the best value.” There are starving Canadians relying on food banks who would love to have a real property investment in New York with these types of features.

Do you see the disconnect between what the government is doing and the reality on the Canadian streets? Do you see that distinction?

[Samantha Tattersall]

I totally appreciate your comments.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I will go further:

[The] amenities include a 25-metre, two-lane swimming pool with private cabanas, separate sauna and treatment rooms, a fitness centre, a resident's lounge, and access to a padel court [and] a golf simulator.

I'd love to have a golf simulator sitting in my basement, but I'm not Justin Trudeau's friend. Friends of Justin Trudeau get to explore these wonderful, wealthy amenities while the rest of us Canadians have to struggle.

Do you see the problem that the Government of Canada has with respect to this purchase? The optics are very poor. I know you talk about a threshold of up to $10 million, but you didn't have to buy right at the foot of Central Park. Manhattan is a big island. Why does the consul general require that proximity to Central Park? Why does he have to have all of these luxury amenities while the rest of us suffer in this country?

Why?

[Samantha Tattersall]

To respond to your question—and I think it's alluded to in the package that was submitted to this committee—the mission requirements are established by Global Affairs under its property management manual. When Global Affairs officials are here, they should be able to walk through—

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I look forward to those discussions—

[Samantha Tattersall]

—how they set out those requirements for an official residence.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

—because Canadians deserve an answer.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thank you very much.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Bains, please, go ahead.

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Steveston—Richmond East, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to our witnesses for joining us today.

My initial questions are directed to the members of PSPC. Could you help me understand the Treasury Board's transaction approval limits a bit more, and conditions for the acquisition or disposition of real properties?

GAC may dispose of properties outside of Canada up to a transaction limit of $25 million. Is PSPC required to appraise properties that are being disposed of under the transaction limit?

[Mark Quinlan]

PSPC is responsible for providing the appraisal for the acquisition and the disposal. For more questions with regard to the actual policy, I'll defer to my colleague from the Treasury Board Secretariat.

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Steveston—Richmond East, BC]

PSPC is required to appraise properties that are being disposed of under the transaction limit. Is that right?

[Mark Quinlan]

PSPC follows the Treasury Board Secretariat's policy. When disposal services are required, we provide those to custodians. In this case, it's Global Affairs Canada.

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Steveston—Richmond East, BC]

In the event that the previous property is being disposed of, you would be required to provide an appraisal for that.

[Mark Quinlan]

Following Treasury Board Secretariat policy. That's correct.

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Steveston—Richmond East, BC]

Okay. What other departments purchase properties for which PSPC is also involved in the cost-benefit analysis?

[Mark Quinlan]

It's strictly following Treasury Board Secretariat's policy with regard to the appraisal. Again, it's strictly limited to the appraisal.

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Steveston—Richmond East, BC]

Okay. Then—

[Mark Quinlan]

The business decisions....

I apologize, Mr. Chair. I interrupted the member, so I will stop my answer and wait for the next question.