Evidence of meeting #44 for Public Accounts in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was victoria.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
We've had a lot of unpleasant experiences with lobbyists over the last number of years on certain files. Was any lobbyist involved, in any way, with this file? Did any lobbyist meet or attempt to meet with you?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Okay, two minutes. And members, I'm going to be strict on my time.
Mr. Rodriguez, deux minutes.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Is it usual for a minister to get involved in that way in changing a decision? In the course of your career, which was quite a long one, did you ever see that happening?
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
So, that was the one and only time that you saw it happen.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Generally speaking, how did employees react when they were advised they were staying?
As an Individual
Those who commented on it informally were pleased to be staying at Place Victoria.
Liberal
As an Individual
Yes. I'm not sure whether if you asked them that now, they would still agree, for the reasons I mentioned previously—including the fact that there had been no improvements made whatsoever. But, initially, they were happy to stay there.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
I understand. Was it not when the Montreal Regional Office opened up on the east side of the city?
Liberal
As an Individual
When I left, a tendering process what about to begin to find accommodation for the Island of Montreal office on the east side. I am not aware of the date, but I know that the move occurred after I left—in other words, after April of 2003.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Some employees whose work only involved the city of Montreal therefore left Place Victoria.
As an Individual
That's correct. There were about 30 of them.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
And how many offices does the Economic Development Agency of Canada have in Quebec?
As an Individual
At the time that I was there, as I recall, there were 14 offices across the regions of Quebec.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Have you ever encountered this kind of situation when building leases for those 14 offices were being negotiated?
As an Individual
No. I had no involvement whatsoever in those discussions, because the regional offices are small entities. All the negotiations and discussions took place between managers at my office and Public Works. So, I never encountered that kind of situation.