Government Operations Committee on Aug. 21st, 2024

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, thank you very much for the question.

Once again, as was pointed out, there is the Steinway Tower, and there is the Steinway Hall. We're not staying in the Steinway Tower, and personally I was not aware of this information.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Okay, so I can assume that it didn't.... It feels a little bit like splitting hairs to distinguish between the tower and the hall, given that they're connected and they share the same residential address. I guess the question is whether it came up during discussions as a potential risk factor, particularly the message that it sends to working people that Global Affairs was willing to locate in a building with such a controversial history. I take from your comments that it didn't come up in the discussions around the purchase.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Could we have a brief answer, please?

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, again, our focus is on stewardship and value for money. We've looked at Steinway Hall, but I can't speak about the information that's being shared today. I was not aware.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Barrett, please, go ahead.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Was the minister informed about the purchase before or after it?

[Stéphane Cousineau]

The minister's office was actually informed before the purchase.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Who in the minister's office was informed?

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, following the delegation of authority, we communicated as per normal protocol, and we informed the minister's office. More precisely, we informed the chief of staff.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Okay. On what date was the minister's chief of staff informed, and on what date was the sale finalized?

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, I'd have to go back to the chronology, but if my memory plays well, for the actual purchase, we informed them of—bear with me—the intent to purchase and sell in early June 2024.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

That's when you informed the minister. Okay.

What's the total cost—just the number—to make any fit-ups for the new residence?

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, in terms of fit-up costs, we don't have the precise detailed financial information, but what I can say is that it's probably around $100,000 to $150,000.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

It's $150,000.

Moving to the shared space with the UN embassy, how much was spent on that in 2018? I referenced it earlier. It's the meeting space.

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, I don't have that information on hand, but I would be pleased to provide that information back—

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

That space was acquired in 2018. Is it rented or owned?

[Stéphane Cousineau]

Mr. Chair, I will turn to my colleague Mr. Dubeau.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Dubeau, is it rented or owned?

[Robin Dubeau]

I would have to confirm that. I don't have that information.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

You don't know. It seems relevant to this, because the rationale for purchasing the $9-million condo on Billionaires' Row for Justin Trudeau's buddy is predicated on not having a kitchen at the facility, which Global Affairs Canada, under the Trudeau government, acquired in 2018. Now here we are in 2024 and we have to buy a $9 million condo because someone—Global Affairs Canada under Justin Trudeau—forgot to put in a kitchen.

I'm looking at the kitchen on the listing for the $9-million condo, and I'm quite curious about the square footage of this, because it doesn't look like a commercial kitchen. I'm just curious—answer yes or no—if it is your contention that all food prep for events hosted at the official residence will be done on site and not in a commercial kitchen?

Will it be done on site or in a commercial kitchen?

[Robin Dubeau]

It's not a question I can answer with a yes or a no. My understanding is that the head of mission—

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Is it done on site, or is it done in a commercial kitchen?

[Robin Dubeau]

The head of mission can decide on whatever way he wants to deliver the functions.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

On a point of order, the translation is on the wrong channel.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm just going to interrupt you for a second. We have translation problems.