Evidence of meeting #109 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was dalian.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:35 p.m.
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
Absolutely.
I was divesting myself from the company, I had no hands on the business after September 19 and actually prior to that, and they still needed to get stuff signed.
You see that all the time in big corporations where the signature's provided.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Valerie Bradford Liberal Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
I think a person's signature indicates that you're personally tied into that contract or that deal.
I think people don't look at a signature thinking, that's not really Mr. Yeo, that's just somebody else who is signing for Mr. Yeo.
I think they would probably think that you were overseeing it or responsible to stand behind your signature.
4:35 p.m.
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
Ultimately, I own the company and I'm responsible, right? I've taken that hit and I'm no longer with DND and my company's been terminated as far as all contracts are concerned, so I'm taking the direct hit on this.
What I can tell you is that this does happen.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you.
We're beginning our third round with Mr. Nater.
You have the floor for five minutes, please.
March 19th, 2024 / 4:35 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Yeo, for joining us this afternoon.
I want to clarify a few things.
Can you confirm that you resigned from the public service on March 5, 2024? Is that correct?
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
You said that DND had made a statement that there was no conflict of interest.
Was that made directly to you?
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Did you ever receive a report from DND related to the conflict of interest?
4:35 p.m.
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
No.
It was an alleged conflict that somebody put up, I guess. What I've heard in the papers—and I know in my own heart—is there was no conflict.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
So you never received a report on March 3 of a conflict of interest report from the Department of National Defence.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Okay, we will pull open that another time.
You mentioned that you had been a consultant for a number of years with the Department of National Defence. I think often we see examples of consultants who work within the department almost parallel to or often in conjunction and integrated with public servants.
Did you ever personally have such a relationship at DND in which you worked at DND HQ or worked closely with full-time, indeterminate public servants during your time as a consultant?
4:40 p.m.
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
The way the consultant aspect works for most of the departments is that you are the subject matter expert player within the directorate. You have public servants who manage you on a day-to-day basis, so the interaction is there, yes, absolutely.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
That is very similar to an employment situation, although you would be on a contract rather than an employee of His Majesty's public service, is that correct?
4:40 p.m.
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
I'm not sure I would go with the employment side of it. You're there as a contractor through TBIPS, SBIPS, PS Online, or one of these other staff augmentation contracts. There's a pretty clear line. You have zero ability to sign off, or do anything as a consultant.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
During that period, were you physically working at DND HQ?
4:40 p.m.
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
Not at HQ, no. I worked for ADM(Mat), which is under DGLEPM and the army side of it.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
4:40 p.m.
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
Yes. I was part of the whole directorate for 22 years.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
It was at a government office.
When was the first time you cashed a cheque, or e-transfer, for your ArriveCAN app work? When was the first time you received payment? You mentioned $4.9 million over three years. What was the date of the first payment receipt?
4:40 p.m.
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
Are you talking about a commission or something like that?
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
No. What was the first payment from the government for your work on ArriveCAN?
4:40 p.m.
Business Owner, Dalian Enterprises Inc.
I'm not sure of that. I'd have to check with our CFO shop. I don't have that detail on me.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
I'd appreciate getting that information on the first day it was received, as well as the last day. Are you able to approximately tell us when that last payment came through?