Evidence of meeting #135 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 chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
August 21st, 2024 / 12:15 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, People and International Platform, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
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.
NDP
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.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, People and International Platform, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
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.
Conservative
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Was the minister informed about the purchase before or after it?
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, People and International Platform, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
The minister's office was actually informed before the purchase.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Who in the minister's office was informed?
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, People and International Platform, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
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.
Conservative
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?
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, People and International Platform, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
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.
Conservative
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?
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, People and International Platform, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
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.
Conservative
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.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, People and International Platform, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Mr. Chair, I don't have that information on hand, but I would be pleased to provide that information back—
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
That space was acquired in 2018. Is it rented or owned?
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, People and International Platform, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Mr. Chair, I will turn to my colleague Mr. Dubeau.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Dubeau, is it rented or owned?
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I would have to confirm that. I don't have that information.
Conservative
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?
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
It's not a question I can answer with a yes or a no. My understanding is that the head of mission—
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Is it done on site, or is it done in a commercial kitchen?
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Real Property and Infrastructure Solutions, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
The head of mission can decide on whatever way he wants to deliver the functions.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
I'm just going to interrupt you for a second. We have translation problems.
