Evidence of meeting #51 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 bdc.
A video is available from Parliament.
6 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Thank you, Ms. Hudon.
We'll begin with Mr. Paul-Hus for six minutes, please.
6 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, Ms. Hudon.
Firstly, before you joined BDC, did you have any personal relations or contacts with people who worked for McKinsey?
6 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
No.
6 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
In your opening address, you mentioned that the board of directors had decided to do business with an external firm to obtain consulting services that could provide guidance to BDC on policy directions.
Is that correct?
6 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
What I said was that the board of directors had supported the idea of launching a strategic review, and that it had also supported the decision to use external consultants.
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Where did this idea come from?
Did it come from you?
6:05 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
We discussed the idea together, by which I mean the members of the board of directors and me.
First of all, when I joined the organization, the team had just undergone an 18 month period during the pandemic, and as I said, the team wanted to be able to continue to provide services…
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Okay.
Since you mentioned the team, there were reports that people on the inside were really angry when they learned that you had decided to award a $4.9-million contract to McKinsey to make strategic planning decisions. You said that your board of directors was in favour of the idea, and you alluded to a selection committee.
Who was on the selection committee that decided to award the contract to McKinsey?
6:05 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
With respect to those who were in disagreement, I heard about them as you did. However, since my arrival, we've gained some additional support in terms of employee engagement. Prior to my arrival, the level of employee engagement was 86%, and it is now 88%. But I will admit that there are those who are who are unhappy about it.
As for the board of directors, the members endorsed the idea, and the proposal to launch a strategic review. They were actively involved in the exercise, along with 400 of my BDC colleagues.
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
There were 400 of your colleagues participating in…
6:05 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
… the exercise…
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
...the exercise related to the call for tenders.
Is that what you mean?
6:05 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
No, not that.
6:05 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
They took part in the strategic review exercise.
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
I'm getting back to the question I asked earlier.
Who was on the selection committee?
6:05 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
Seven members of my team…
6:05 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
Seven members of the management team…
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
February 8th, 2023 / 6:05 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
… or people on the management team.
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Can you tell us their names?
Do you know the names of those seven people?
6:05 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
They were Michel Bergeron, Stéphane, Pierre, Karl, Maude and Anouk, from Public Services and Procurement Canada.
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Where the people on the selection committee also members of the board of directors?
6:05 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Bank of Canada
No.