Government Operations Committee on Aug. 21st, 2024

[Robin Dubeau]

It was listed at.... I don't remember it exactly, but I think it was $6.89 million.

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

It was $6.89 million, and you bought it for $6.63 million.

[Robin Dubeau]

We paid $6.5 million U.S.

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

Was it roughly $300,000 or $400,000 less?

[Robin Dubeau]

Yes.

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

Okay.

With respect to the renovation costs on Park Avenue, how many bids did you receive at Global Affairs?

[Robin Dubeau]

The renovation was assessed by our quantity surveyors, who are the professionals who basically assess the work that needs to be done based on plans done by architects. We never went to market for those renovations because we worked with those numbers.

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

Why wouldn't you go to market to get the best value?

[Robin Dubeau]

When we got the information that it was up to $2.6 million, we wanted to change the approach and look at all of the options.

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

That's based on your internal numbers, though. Why would you not go to market to see whether or not it would be a more feasible option to try to find the best renovation cost possible, again, to further save the taxpayer money? Why wasn't that an option?

[Robin Dubeau]

The quantity surveyors are very good at assessing the cost of a project. When we saw that the costs were escalating—

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

Is that what you do for all of your official residences in terms of renovation costs? Do you not look for best value?

[Robin Dubeau]

We look for best value. We use quantity surveyors first to get an appreciation of how much money it's going to cost.

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

Okay. Let's move on.

You talked about the old property not being accessible. Can you explain that? I think you did. One of the washrooms had to be accessible. I truly understand that. Those are Canadian codes.

What was done specifically with the new property to make it accessible?

[Robin Dubeau]

I understand that the floor plan was looked at, and then it was determined that the options exist there for an accessible bathroom to be....

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

Is that being installed as we speak?

Mr. Clark is not in that residence right now. Is that correct?

[Robin Dubeau]

No, he's not there.

I don't think we need to renovate. I think the bathroom is readily available and accessible as it is.

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

Okay, so you don't need to put any additional devices on the walls to make it even more accessible. It's just the ability to use a wheelchair to get into the washroom. Is that what you mean by accessible?

[Robin Dubeau]

Yes.

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

The width of the door was more accessible at the new location versus at the old location.

[Robin Dubeau]

Yes.

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

Couldn't you renovate the existing entranceway to a washroom? There were seven washrooms in the old location. Couldn't you tear out the door and make it accessible? Was that discussed?

[Robin Dubeau]

I'm sorry. Are we talking about the old...?

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

It's the old property at Park Avenue.

[Robin Dubeau]

That was part of the renovation project that we looked at. It was to make it accessible.