Public Accounts Committee on March 19th, 2024

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Is that your perspective?

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Thank you very much. I'm afraid that is your time, Mr. Desjarlais, but you'll get another round.

We're turning now to Mr. Barrett.

Mr. Barrett, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Do you have any companies or interests in companies outside Canada?

[David Yeo]

No, sir.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

No offshore holdings?

[David Yeo]

No.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Are any of your former colleagues at DND double-dipping?

[David Yeo]

I don't know if I know what that means, but I am not aware of any double-dipping going on.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Oh, it's what you do. It's working for the federal government as a public servant and also as a contractor concurrently.

[David Yeo]

Well, yes, I would assume there are a lot of people in the public service who have companies outside the public service. I'm not aware of any.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Who do work for the Government of Canada.... Do you think that's quite common?

[David Yeo]

I think it's fairly common, yes.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

What do you base that on? Is it from your personal experience or conversations with other public servants?

[David Yeo]

I would say it's my own perception. I've been around the department forever and everybody has their day-to-day work and maybe a little side gig at night doing something else.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

For the same department they work for...?

[David Yeo]

Oh, it's probably not that, no. If you're talking about that, it's no.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

You talked about how you took this job to drive projects. What did you say your position was within the public service?

[David Yeo]

I am a tactical security specialist certified in high-assurance capabilities that go into the Canadian army at the very pointy end of the stick—in combat vehicles and on soldiers. I'm a soldier myself—

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

It's not about the technology, sir. I'm asking what level you are at in the public service.

[David Yeo]

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm an IT-3.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Okay.

Were you leading change as an IT-3? Is it common for IT-3s to be leading departmental and organizational change?

[David Yeo]

I certainly wouldn't put it up that high.

“Team lead” is the correct statement. As an IT-3, you're in charge of a number of projects. In this case, from my side, it was a high-assurance security project.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

You said that the figure that the Auditor General attributed to your companies is incorrect. Is that fair?

[David Yeo]

This is what I've been read into and what my staff tells me, yes.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

It's what you've been read into. Did you read the Auditor General's report?