PACP Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met at 11:06 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, the Hon. Joseph Volpe, presiding.

It was agreed, — That, notwithstanding the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, October 21, 2010, which reads as follows:

“That the committee, under the authority of Standing Order 108 in relation to its study of Chapter 3, Rehabilitating the Parliament Buildings, of the Spring 2010 Report of the Auditor General of Canada, request with regard to the West Block Restoration project, the details of all contracts relating to the work, providing for each contract (i) the name of the contractor, (ii) a description of the services provided, (iii) the value of the contract, (iv) a description of the procurement strategy and the competitive process for awarding all contracts; (v) a detailed explanation of the justification for any non-competitive processes in the awarding of contracts; (vi) the name of the government employee(s) who selected the winning bids and who approved the contracts; (vii) the names of any person, agent, or lobbyist who made representations or advocated for the contracts;

That the committee also request all papers and records both electronic and hard copy from 2007 until today as they relate to the tendering and awarding of the restoration of the North Tower of Parliament Hill’s West Block project; That the committee also request all papers and records both electronic and hard copy from 2007 until today of communications between 4373413 Canada Inc.; LM Sauvé Ltd.; Paul Sauvé; Varcan Communications Inc.; Gilles Varin, and any government officials either elected or not; and

That said material be delivered to the committee within 5 sitting days”,

the said material be delivered to the Committee in both official languages as it becomes available, to be received in its entirety by Friday, November 19, 2010.

It was agreed, — That the Chair write to request from the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates a copy of the material received by that Committee pursuant to its motion adopted on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, which reads as follows:

“That the Department of Public Works and Government Services provide the Committee with a list of the all people who communicated with and within the department regarding changing the criteria for the contract to renovate the West Block building, as well as the names of the employees at Public Works and Government Services who made the changes to the criteria for this project; that the Committee also request that Public Works and Government Services provide it with all documentation, written and electronic, from people within the department and with outside parties on the change in criteria for this project; and that all material be provided to the Committee within five business days”.

Michelle d'Auray and James Ralston made statements and, with John Wiersema and Bill Matthews, answered questions.

At 1:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.