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.
11:35 a.m.
As an Individual
My classification is managing director, and I provide strategic advice to the organization.
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Does this position involve any engagement with the federal government?
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
To be clear, I was subject to all kinds of post-employment conflict of interest requirements, which I have always scrupulously maintained and adhered to.
I have very limited direct interaction with government clients. I'm more of a back-office strategic adviser support person.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you.
Are there no other post-employment limitations?
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
I still am subject to all kinds of limitations in terms of lobbying and things like that, but I had a one-year cooling-off period. I'm not allowed to switch sides. They're all outlined in the Conflict of Interest Act, and my initial employment with the firm was approved by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Do you agree with the Auditor General's recommendations in this report?
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
It's not for me to disagree. The agency has agreed with them and is putting in steps to make the appropriate changes.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Looking back, do you have any recommendations of your own to improve the procurement process?
11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
The procurement process is a very, very complicated regime, for lack of better words. I think that there is room for improvements and these types of things as a result of what we've discovered through the committee's work on ArriveCAN.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
May 16th, 2024 / 11:40 a.m.
As an Individual
I'm really not a specialist in procurement. I think there is always room for things to be better. I think the government will always need the support of the private sector as it's trying to do transformative and big-system changes, and finding a co-operative way forward would behoove both industry and the government.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Is there anything else you would like to finish off in terms of your testimony here?
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you very much, Ms. Yip.
I just have a question.
You mentioned—and I think this is believable—that if wrongdoing had been sent to you, you would have acted on it. You said something at the top that was interesting, which is that the Auditor General found that systems “were in place, but...they were not...followed.”
Who's responsible? That's what we're trying to get at here. You seem to be.... You were in a unique position to be responsible. In fact, you said that you were the person responsible and that you were proud of the work. Can you answer that question for us? Who was responsible when rules were in place to ensure that tax dollars were wisely spent and accounted for, but the system broke down internally? Was it officials under you, or was it officials over you?
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
I'm new to this committee, so I'd like some clarification from you. Can the chair of a committee participate, as you are now doing?
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Yes. It's common practice for the chair to ask questions. However, it doesn't last long and these aren't usually partisan questions. So, to answer your question, yes, I can ask a few brief questions.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
Did you say that you could ask partisan questions? Sorry, I'm not sure I understood.