Evidence of meeting #134 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 property.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thank you very much.
Mr. Jowhari, you can finish up. Go ahead, please.
Liberal
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I really don't have any more questions for TBS and PSPC, but I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's meeting, when we start with GAC and talk about the real need. What was the need? What drove the need? When was this identified? How long did it take? What is the process?
What is clear, to me at least, is that there were guidelines established by TBS. They're very clearly documented, and those have been communicated to many departments. There are thresholds available. It will be our job tomorrow to ask whether those were followed and to question that.
When I look at the document that's provided, I see that 21 different properties were looked at. At least 12 of them look as if they're within the threshold or below the threshold. From the document provided, it looks as though the property that was selected was the cheapest one. At least it was the lowest dollar per square foot among all the choices.
The questions around the previous residence, I think, are valid in order for us to get an understanding. Based on the document that's been given to us, it looks as though the difference between the carrying cost and the net present value over a period of time yields at least a $7.4-million saving, which is somewhat close to the price of the condo. There are some of the questions we'll be asking. We'll be asking about the guidelines around valuation for both the previous and the new. As well, probably a good question to ask, as far as sequencing is concerned, is whether the cost of the sequencing is worth taking into account when the total net present value is calculated.
Really, thank you, TBS.
Thank you, PSPC, for coming in and highlighting the guidelines and your role in this.
We're going to have a lot of good questions to ask GAC tomorrow.
Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
That's great.
Thank you, Mr. Jowhari.
Before we break, earlier Mrs. Vignola asked about requesting the appraisal. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think everyone has agreed that we'll ask for the appraisal. It will come to the clerk, the analysts, the MPs and the associate MPs. Is that correct, everyone?
Liberal
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Yes, and it will come to associate MPs specifically, such as Michael.
Conservative
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Mr. Chair, I don't know whether I'm losing my hearing or if I just missed a few words, but we're told that this is for permanent members and associates. I just wanted to check that—
Conservative
Liberal
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
That's it.
I'm acknowledging that Michael and Larry are associate members. They've been at this committee—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
That's great.
Ms. Bouchard, I started asking this before. Right now is it in English only, or is it in English and French?
Acting Chief Appraiser of Canada, Real Property Services, Department of Public Works and Government Services
For now, the appraisal report is only available in English.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
That's wonderful.
I think the committee was asking for it within 21 days, so consider that ordered. We'll expect that to be with the clerk by noon 21 days from now.
Thank you very much.
Liberal
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
I have one question. Can we get clarification? Is it the clerk of the committee or the law clerk we are sending this to?
Traditionally we have sent it to—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
No, it will go to the clerk, and she will send it to the analysts and the MPs.
Liberal
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Okay.
We will go to your office to review it; you won't send it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
No. My understanding is that it was going to go to the MPs. Is that not what was agreed to?
Liberal
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
No. It was agreed that we would go to your office and read it over there.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
I was also under the impression that people would go to the office with no notes or phones, and read the documents confidentially, with no leaking.
At least once in our lives, all of us have likely sold a property or seen someone else sell a property for a price that differed from the municipal assessment. Everyone hopes to sell a bit over the assessed value, and the present case is no exception. However, if information gets leaked that some repair or other is no big deal for one person, but a major issue for someone else, it could affect the negotiations.
Having already sold a home of my own, I like negotiations to be fair. I wouldn't want to find out that the negotiation process was marred by leaked documents.
I don't know how much the apartment is worth based on its square footage and prestigious location. Park Avenue is an old-money, historic area that seems highly sought-after. I understand that. I would be very uncomfortable knowing that negotiations over the price of this apartment had been affected by leaked information. That's why I want steps taken to ensure that the document remains confidential.
I thought we had agreed to read the document in the clerk's office, and to include members who are usually here, but not necessarily regular members. That could be done after the House resumes. We should be almost there in 21 days, and then we can all read the document without spending too much on travel. That was my understanding. That's my preference, frankly, to avoid influencing negotiations one way or another.