Public Accounts Committee on June 6th, 2024

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Thank you, Minister. I have to move on. My time is very limited.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Okay.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I appreciate your response.

I have a list of all these middlemen contractors. These are contractors retained by the Government of Canada to ultimately hire professionals.

Surprisingly, one of the entries is SNC-Lavalin, the company that was mired in controversy not too long ago and facing bribery, corruption and fraud charges that ultimately put so much pressure on the Prime Minister and his staff that it led to another conviction on ethical violations. It would probably be the last organization the Government of Canada would want to align itself with, yet SNC-Lavalin got $115,000.

The question is very simple: Why did taxpayer monies of $115,000 go to this company?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Again, I don't know that particular contract, and I don't know whether my officials would have that information, but I'd invite them to provide it if you require it.

[Troy Crosby]

I don't have the details on that contract. I—

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

What did SNC-Lavalin do? You don't have details. You'll provide us with details?

[Troy Crosby]

I'm not sure of the dates of that contract, but we can look it up.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

It was last year.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

As Troy mentioned, we're talking about an incredibly large number of contracts—

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I have to move on, Minister. I appreciate that.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

—so having particular details of one of them—

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I appreciate that.

I'm looking at this list. There are roughly three pages. There are either corporations, limited corporations.... The identity is pretty much explanatory as to what they do, yet there is one entry for an individual by the name of Melanie Randall. Would she be a Liberal donor or affiliated with the Liberal Party of Canada?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I have no idea who Melanie Randall is.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Melanie Randall received $137,812.49 of taxpayer funds. I know that I want to know and I'm sure all Canadians want to know why a certain individual has received a pretty significant contract. I'd like to know who she is, what she did for the government and what value Canadians have received. Will you provide that to me, Mr. Crosby?

[Troy Crosby]

Yes, we can do that, Mr. Chair.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Thank you.

Here's another big one. Pardon the pun, because the name is Big Rideau Leadership Services. Last year, they got $14,000. Do you know what they did?

[Troy Crosby]

Not specifically.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Do you know where they work from?

[Troy Crosby]

I'm not specifically aware. I've heard of the name of the contractor before.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Sure. We did a search, and Big Rideau Leadership Services works in a residential area just outside of Ottawa, at 6 Brandy Creek Crescent, likely working out of their home office or basement, just like the infamous GC Strategies.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

I have a point of order, Chair.

I'm concerned about personal information being given out about individuals. I don't know where this is going.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

It's public domain.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

We know that Mr. Yeo was a Conservative donor. I don't really see where this is going.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

On that point of order, Mr. Chair, we're going to correct the record once and for all, because both Ms. Shanahan and Ms. Khalid are misrepresenting the evidence that this committee heard—

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

I have a point of order, Chair.