Evidence of meeting #122 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 documents.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Will you co-operate with them when and if they decide to talk to you?
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
The president of the CBSA, Erin O'Gorman, appeared two days ago. She was quite clear that only one casual employee contract was offered to you, and that was the one-day contract we spoke about. That's not accurate at all. In fact, you've received more than one contract since you left CBSA. Isn't that correct?
As an Individual
Mr. Chair, the initial contract that occurred was for my appearance on January 18. After we closed out that contract, I was invited back to OGGO in February, but it didn't work out for scheduling reasons, so that contract was restarted. I believe what she said was that under her tenure, it's happened only once. Maybe she was just referring to me once, but in fact there were two separate contracts. Actually, I would just clarify that they're not contracts; I'm on casual employment status.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Did you, in fact, sign a contract in relation to your appearance today?
Conservative
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
All right.
Now, in relation to the documentation, you claim you accessed only your emails and your calendars, but again, that's not accurate, because you had access to literally everything at the CBSA surrounding this scandal. Isn't that correct, sir?
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Well, Ms. O'Gorman was asked two days ago what documentation you had received, and she very curtly said that she didn't know and we'd have to ask you, so we're asking you.
Isn't it true that Ms. O'Gorman actually furnished you with a number of documents in relation to your committee appearances, including the statement of allegations against Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Utano?
As an Individual
Ms. O'Gorman has not personally provided me with any information, and I have never seen the statement of fact or allegations against Mr. Utano or Mr. MacDonald.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
You would disagree that emails exist from Ms. O'Gorman to you, including attachments with documentation regarding the statement of fact against Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Utano. Is that correct?
As an Individual
I have no knowledge of any emails from Ms. O'Gorman about the statement of fact or the allegations.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you very much. That is your time, Mr. Brock.
Next up is Mr. Sorbara.
You have the floor for five minutes. Go ahead, please.
Liberal
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, everyone. Welcome and good morning to everyone.
Mr. Ossowski, welcome to the committee today, and thank you for availing yourself and answering the questions that have been posed.
Before I begin my line of questioning, is there anything, John—I can just refer to you by your first name—you'd like to add in terms of the questions you've answered to date from any of my colleagues? Is there any clarification or anything you wish to expand on?
Liberal
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Okay. Thank you.
John, in your comments to date, you've commented that as CBSA president, you were not involved in the vendor selection process. Can you elaborate, please?
As an Individual
As I've said, generally speaking, as a deputy minister, I would get involved in a contracting process only if it required ministerial authority or briefing or a Treasury Board submission. None of those occurred in this case.