Public Accounts Committee on June 11th, 2007

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

So you disagreed with him. You didn't need to check with anybody as to whether this was appropriate? Everything here was in order?

[Supt Pierre Lavoie]

I advised my immediate supervisor, Mr. Corrigan, that I was having difficulty with this report and there was no way I could justify not releasing the report. In my mind, this was an issue of the report being released. Period.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Okay. I just want a clear answer, though. Do you believe that Mr. Estabrooks' concerns about Mr. Gauvin being in a conflict of interest had any merit?

[Supt Pierre Lavoie]

At the time I didn't think so.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Did you check with anybody?

[Supt Pierre Lavoie]

No.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Is there any particular reason why you wouldn't check or—

[Supt Pierre Lavoie]

Simply because based on my experience and the knowledge I had of some investigative. I didn't think it was required.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Fair enough.

Tell me about what happened in your office shortly after Mr. McConnell came into the office—Sorry. You received a phone message from Mr. McConnell, and there was a point where he came in the office, and there were fingers waving, and—This is your testimony, sir: “It wasn't ten minutes later that Mr. Gauvin's assistant was at my door and waving his finger at me, saying what's this, that Mr. Gauvin had nothing to do with this decision and it was my decision all along to make.”

What's going on there?

[Supt Pierre Lavoie]

Sir, we're not talking about the same day here.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

But it's in reference to the same issue.

[Supt Pierre Lavoie]

The memo was on the 21st, the discussion I had with Mr. McConnell was on April 5. That was the result of Mr. Dupuis, from the information commissioner, saying, okay, who needs a subpoena to come and explain what's happening with the report? I told Mr. Dupuis, hang on, I'll get back to you.

That's when I sent an e-mail to Mr. Corrigan, to Mr. Gauvin, to Mr. Alberti, with a copy to Mr. McConnell. It wasn't ten minutes later that Mr. McConnell came up and had the discussion that you referenced.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Finish the story. What did you tell him, ultimately?

[Supt Pierre Lavoie]

Ultimately I told him that if it was my decision to make, I would make my decision, and to remember that in the future.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Brian Fitzpatrick]

Mr. Christopherson, I gave you about 40 seconds more, just out of generosity.

Now we have to move to Borys.

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Mr. Gauvin, who is the employee that you referenced you asked twice about a benefit from a car company? What's the name of the employee? Who was the employee that you referenced had received a benefit from a car company?

[D/Commr Paul Gauvin]

His name is Fred Dupuis.

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Did you ever instruct Mr. Fred Dupuis to hire your son, and did he end up working for Mr. Fred Dupuis?

[D/Commr Paul Gauvin]

No, I never instructed him to hire my son. My son was hired through the Public Service Commission, as any other employee would be hired.

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Was he hired below Mr. Dupuis or under his authority?

[D/Commr Paul Gauvin]

He was hired within that area, but he was working in the central region at the time.

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Were you worried about these allegations about Mr. Fred Dupuis?

[D/Commr Paul Gauvin]

Yes, very worried.

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

So you were worried about allegations that he was receiving benefits from an outside company the RCMP was contracting with. Were you worried that you were receiving benefits as well?

[D/Commr Paul Gauvin]

I wasn't receiving any benefits.