Evidence of meeting #49 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 know.
A video is available from Parliament.
As an Individual
—and about just my meetings with him. I didn't meet with his staff. I would meet with Bill Morneau, typically with Paul Rochon.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Which staff in his office did you or McKinsey ever meet with?
Conservative
As an Individual
It was similar to the number of times I met the Prime Minister, because she was usually in the room.
Conservative
As an Individual
Fewer, because he'd left, but he was part of that group. When I'd meet the Prime Minister, the two of them would be there, often Bill Morneau, and maybe some other people; I didn't know who they were—
Conservative
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
This is a quote from Bill Morneau's book. “A month later, I revealed that Dominic Barton, one of Canada's most insightful and successful international business people, would serve as chair of the council. The council itself would be made up of 14 Canadian and international leaders from business and academia, including Mark Wiseman, Susan Fortier, Michael Sabia, Lisa Linn and Chris Rogan. Thanks to Dominic's role as CEO of McKinsey & Company, the global management consulting firm would assist the council and assess our current situation and future scenarios, as well as drafting recommendations. I also note that all the members of the council would perform their services for an annual salary of $1 each. McKinsey committed to supporting us on a pro bono basis, working closely with the Department of Finance in what turned out to be a particularly effective partnership.”
This is another quote from Where To from Here: A Path to Canadian Prosperity, written by Bill Morneau: “We developed a number of good ideas and concepts. They included setting immigration targets and expanding the number of scientists available to work on the new developments that could either support existing economic activities or inspire new ones.”
Mr. Barton, McKinsey & Company provided the work on the economic advisory panel, of which you were chair, all pro bono, as you know. If McKinsey were to have invoiced the Government of Canada for that work, how much would they have charged?
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
What kind of information did McKinsey become privy to through the work on the economic advisory council?
As an Individual
They were providing information. They weren't getting information.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Did your company have to go through any security or background checks, like they would have had to for a government contract?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thanks very much.
Ms. Thompson, you have five minutes, please.
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to the committee, Mr. Barton. I want to acknowledge that you're here as an independent witness and that certainly you've served under successive prime ministers. Clearly, I'm reading that we...and certainly part of the work of this committee is around a study on contracting and outsourcing. That's very important, and it clearly is where this is very quickly moving.
I have questions, but before I move into those, I would like to give you the opportunity to respond to Ms. Kusie's original question around a note, I presume, from Minister Freeland.