Evidence of meeting #55 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 contracts.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
All right. How was Abotech paid: by the consultant or by the government?
3:50 p.m.
As an Individual
Once we had secured the contract, we signed a contract with a Mr. Taylor. Everyone had their copy of the contract. I had the consultant sign a contract for the work which was to be done. The consultant had to report to a client of the department. Once a month, the client sent me an invoice and a sheet from the department indicating that the work had indeed been carried out. I then sent the invoice to Consulting and Audit Canada and paid the consultant as soon as the client sent me the official documents indicating that the work had been carried out.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
Did some of the money go from the consultants to Abotech?
3:50 p.m.
As an Individual
I would receive a federal government cheque and then write out a company cheque in the name of the consultant. The difference between the two was the gross profit for the company.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
But no money exchanged hands between the consultant and Abotech?
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
I just wanted to clarify that. How did you meet the consultants? Were they referred to you?
3:50 p.m.
As an Individual
They were either referred to us or they called me. As I said earlier, these were all former public servants who were experts in certain areas. I suppose that the client wanted this type of expertise. It all depended on what was needed. If a client needed someone for one or two days a week to do a specific job, and if there was a written agreement, the consultant could go work there.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
Was Mr. Brazeau one of the people who referred consultants to you?
3:50 p.m.
As an Individual
When these people got my name to call me, they got it from Consulting and Audit Canada. Every time I submitted a bid, three, four or five candidates were invited to put forth their names at the same time. That's how it worked.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
Did one person in particular refer candidates to you?
3:50 p.m.
As an Individual
I imagine that Mr. Brazeau did so. I also met with one of his female colleagues, who worked in the same department, to offer our services to her. This type of service was offered by many businesses in the National Capital Region.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
3:50 p.m.
As an Individual
Michael contacted me. I subsequently met him, and he told me about an opportunity for a contract, as I explained to you earlier. I asked him for his resume, and he gave it to me. I put his name into the data base. Again, three, four or five companies had been invited to submit the names of qualified people for the work.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
How long before contract 560-3107 came out, which was on July 3, 2002 or thereabouts, did you meet Mr. Onischuk?
3:50 p.m.
As an Individual
It was certainly around that time, give or take a few months.