Evidence of meeting #19 for Public Accounts in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was bonaventure.
A recording is available from Parliament.
As an Individual
I do want to point out as well that Mr. Arès was the author of the memorandum that was sent to Mr. Goodale in June, asking him to approve the lease with Place Victoria. And I do believe his testimony was recanted—
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
That's probably pro forma. I'm not sure that means much; he's just--
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
--doing his job.
Since you seem to be willing to defend a little more than I had anticipated, I'm going to push a little more. Who reacted to this letter from a disciplinary point of view or from a concerned point of view?
As an Individual
It would have been taken up with the region. I expect that...and I don't know this, but—
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
So you have this kind of allegation, that a minister's office is involved in a file that they shouldn't, from someone who's at a directorate level, and you don't know anything about it?
As an Individual
Because it was simply a matter of his not having the correct facts. I believe his own testimony acknowledges that once he had the facts, he did not stand behind that memorandum.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Well, he certainly went beyond just a crisp matter-of-fact letter. There are some editorial comments here that are very strong. It seems to me that somebody should have done something about making those kinds of allegations, or do you just allow staff to make editorial comments about ministers' decisions every day?
As an Individual
Well, I'm certain his regional director general would have taken it up with him, but--
NDP
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Does this concern you ? I mean, at a practical level do you not agree...? You're a citizen now; say what you want. Do you not at least see why we don't feel this is resolved?
As an Individual
I think I can speak both as a citizen and as former deputy minister. I think mistakes were made, and assumptions--
As an Individual
Mistakes were made in terms of perhaps not being appropriately rigorous with the analysis regarding the ability to backfill Place Bonaventure.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
That's after our point; our point is still about the decision to back up in the first place.
As an Individual
I think at the time there was a desire to see whether the changed requirements on the part of the client could be accommodated in a manner that was in the public interest and still consistent with leasing principles, and that is what occurred.
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Here we go, with great respect, around and around the mulberry bush, and we still can't find anybody who will step forward to acknowledge being the responsible party who made the decision and to acknowledge that's why this is happening. I'm somewhat disappointed, I must say, in your performance.
Thank you, Chair.
