Public Accounts Committee on Sept. 25th, 2024

[Lysane Bolduc]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the question.

I was not with the procurement branch In January 2020. I was with PSPC, with the real property services at the time. Yes, that's right. I joined the procurement branch in November 2022.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Thank you very much.

What was your relationship with Ms. Daly?

[Lysane Bolduc]

She reported to me through several levels of hierarchy. I had never met Ms. Daly up until that day on December 13, when I was contacted to ask her to co-operate in the investigation. That was the first time I actually met Ms. Daly.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Had you had any previous text messages, phone calls or emails between you and Ms. Daly prior to your meeting in person?

[Lysane Bolduc]

Thank you for the question. No, not once.

When I was director general of real property and commercial acquisitions sector—as I said, I joined in November 2022—I had about 245 employees at the time. I possibly had met Ms. Daly through a meeting, but I had never communicated one-on-one with Ms. Daly.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

I understand. Were there any issues with Ms. Daly's work before she was placed on administrative leave? Was she ever disciplined? Was there notice ever given to a union in regard to this, either formally or informally?

[Lysane Bolduc]

Thank you for the question. No, not that I'm aware of. The full file would need to be looked at but, no, I'm not aware of any issues.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

From the committee meeting we had with Ms. Daly on August 7, she stated clearly that “issues of GC Strategies' very poor documentation, errors with submissions and slow responses to resolution for the errors have been raised with TBIPS PSPC managers and the contractor by me and other CBSA staff.”

What is your impression of the statement she submitted to this committee, and who are the PSPC managers that she refers to?

[Lysane Bolduc]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the question.

Is that a statement that Ms. Daly made? Could you repeat the statement, please?

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

She said, “From 2020 to 2022, the issues of GC Strategies' very poor documentation, errors with submissions and slow responses to resolution for the errors have been raised with TBIPS PSPC managers and the contractor by me and other CBSA staff.”

Do you recall that?

[Lysane Bolduc]

Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.

I would say that the Auditor General as well as the procurement ombudsman have also found deficiencies with those methods of supply. We're well aware. In fact, the department has acted on many of the recommendations already.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Were you aware of these particular issues prior to the Auditor General's report, most particularly when Ms. Daly submitted to this committee that she had brought this up with senior management during her time and capacity at PSPC?

[Lysane Bolduc]

Thank you for the question. I was not there with the procurement branch at that time. Thanks.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Who do you think she would have reported to in that instance when she describes senior managers of TBIPS and PSPC managers?

[Lysane Bolduc]

Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair. I believe, at the time, she worked for the CBSA.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Thank you very much.

Ms. Daly is currently on administrative leave and was under investigation, as you previously referenced, by PSPC and CBSA. Are these investigations ongoing?

[Lysane Bolduc]

I believe so.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

In this instance, if there's new information that arises from her testimony related to that investigation, are there any additional facts to her testimony that you'd like to submit here today in relation to that study regarding the internal investigation?

[Lysane Bolduc]

No.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

Ms. Daly alleges that she was placed on leave for retaliatory reasons.

How do you respond to the allegations that she was placed on leave because she refused to provide false testimony?

[Lysane Bolduc]

As I stated in my opening remarks, at no point did either Tom or I ask Ms. Daly to make a false statement. On the contrary, we offered our support.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

When was that discussion where you offered the support?

[Lysane Bolduc]

Thank you for the question.

I offered her the support on December 14, 2023.

[Blake Desjarlais, NDP, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

How long was that from the time and period she says she raised these claims with PSPC?

[Lysane Bolduc]

Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.

I don't know. You're suggesting January 2020, but again, I don't know.