Another 400million in conflict of interest by CPC

[Catchme]

Public Works head faces accusations related to $400-million computer contract

DANIEL LEBLANC

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

OTTAWA — Public Works Minister Michael Fortier is denying any political interference in a $400-million contract that is on its way to a company that he worked for in his days as a lawyer and a banker

... "The conflict of interest is clear," Mr. Powell said at a news conference, although he provided no evidence that Mr. Fortier was involved on the file.

Mr. Powell said he wants the Public Service Integrity Office to investigate the matter.

So we have 400 million being investigated with DND and transportsation costsm, and now this, as well as the RCMP investigations, woow, the CPC have been in power 18 months and they have already beaten the Liberals 13 year record of taking tax payers dollors.

[Catchme]

oops forgot the link to the 400 million conflict story.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...0417.wxdenial17

[geoffrey]

Accounting irregularities (mostly non-partisan civil servants that are responsible, though ultimately the Ministers are) aren't stealing like the Liberals did.

If we counted all the contracts the Liberals gave to their friends, we'd be at the same number.

Don't be silly Catchme, your brighter than that. Only a true partisan hack or someone with very inferior intelligence woudl equate these investigations with a deliberate scheme to take taxpayer money to elect MP's in Quebec.

[kimmy]

So we have 400 million being investigated with DND and transportsation costs

Prove it.

If you're referring to this: http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showtopic=8639

...then you and your little friends' attempt to link this to Harper is one of the most dishonest things I've read on this board in the past 3 years, and I would think if that you people had any self-respect you'd be ashamed of yourselves for having done so.

-k

[Michael Bluth]

Don't be silly Catchme, your brighter than that. Only a true partisan hack or someone with very inferior intelligence woudl equate these investigations with a deliberate scheme to take taxpayer money to elect MP's in Quebec.

Geoff you are being overly generous.

[Argus]

Don't be silly Catchme, your brighter than that.

Do you have any evidence to support this astonishing suggestion?

[ScottSA]

This is nothing more than an attempt to manipulate government procurement:

Donald Powell, the president of the placement firm the Powell Group, accused Mr. Fortier of being in a conflict of interest in relation to a coming contract to CGI Group Inc. to provide computer experts to the government.

Mr. Moore replied that the contract to provide computer services to the government has not even been approved yet.

So in effect, Powell is trying to make it politically unpalatable for the government to renew the CGI contract, which increases his own firm's chances of being awarded the contract. He should be charged with public mischief.

[Fortunata]

The Conflict of Interest rules say no direct or indirect conflicts of interest including the perception of a conflict. Steve's merry band of tax grabbers are in violation; this just being the lastest example. But like most governments he figures he is above any law that has ever been passed.

[ScottSA]

The Conflict of Interest rules say no direct or indirect conflicts of interest including the perception of a conflict. Steve's merry band of tax grabbers are in violation; this just being the lastest example. But like most governments he figures he is above any law that has ever been passed.

Nonsense to all of the above. And in this particular case there is not even a whiff of impropriety except in the case of the accuser.

[Fortunata]

Nonsense to all of the above. And in this particular case there is not even a whiff of impropriety except in the case of the accuser.

Really? What's this then?

On appointment to office, and thereafter, public office

holders shall arrange their private affairs in a manner that

will prevent real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest

from arising ...

7. (1) In addition to the specific compliance measures provided for

in this Part, the Ethics Commissioner may impose any

compliance measure, including divestment or recusal, in

respect of any matter or asset which, in the Ethics

Commissioner’s opinion, creates a conflict of interest or the

appearance of same.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/oec/en/public_office...docs/code_e.pdf

[ScottSA]

Nonsense to all of the above. And in this particular case there is not even a whiff of impropriety except in the case of the accuser.

Really? What's this then?

On appointment to office, and thereafter, public office

holders shall arrange their private affairs in a manner that

will prevent real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest

from arising ...

7. (1) In addition to the specific compliance measures provided for

in this Part, the Ethics Commissioner may impose any

compliance measure, including divestment or recusal, in

respect of any matter or asset which, in the Ethics

Commissioner’s opinion, creates a conflict of interest or the

appearance of same.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/oec/en/public_office...docs/code_e.pdf

That doesn't mean it has to be fireproof against spurious lawsuits by troublemakers. There is no appearance of impropriety here.

[Fortunata]

There is a definite appearance of conflict of interest.

[kimmy]

At some point, everything is a conflict of interest.

I think weighing this issue boils down to 2 important questions:

(1) Does Fortier have a personal interest in CGI?

(2) Has Fortier actually interfered in the bidding process?

He's described as having a financial interest in a company that's a "strategic partner" of CGI. Depending on the details of how much financial interest, and what exactly the "strategic partnership" means to the company of which Fortier has a direct financial stake in, Fortier's financial interest in CGI's success might be significant or it might be minimal or nonexistent. More information is required on that.

Has Fortier actually interfered in the bidding? There's no indication that he has, except for an accusation from someone with an obvious vested interest.

I would file this one under interesting, but not yet suspicious, and keep an eye on it. Perhaps there's more to it, or perhaps it is (as Scottsa suggests) an attempt by the accuser to influence the bidding process.

Personally when I first heard that a Quebec company might be awarded a contract over an Ontario company with a lower bid, my first thought was of the CF18 maintenance contract debacle of 20 years ago.

-k

[Cameron]

He denied that his allegation against Mr. Fortier is a case of sour grapes, even though his firm had the contract in question since 1999.

From the article.

[hiti]

He denied that his allegation against Mr. Fortier is a case of sour grapes, even though his firm had the contract in question since 1999.

From the article.

Don't ignore the part in the article where it states that CGI's bid is much higher than Powell's firm.

And for Fortier to award this bid to his old buddies is definitely a conflict of interest but that minor detail never stopped Steve and his cons before.

We must just listen to the words and not mind the actions.

We must just listen to the words and not mind the actions.

We must just listen to the words and not mind the actions.

We must just listen to the words and not mind the actions.

We must just listen to the words and not mind the actions.

We must just listen to the words and not mind the actions.

We must just listen to the words and not mind the actions.

See.... now we can give Steve a majority.

[cybercoma]

How many people in Canada are members of political parties?

If all the companies those people have ever worked for (or their friends or family members worked for) are not allowed contracts simply because someone who's a member of a party worked for them, very few companies in this country would be allowed to get contracts.

I'm not just talking MPs because I know some people would go so far as to tie links between people who are card carrying supporters, their friends and their families.

At the end of the day we should be more concerned with whether or not the company gets the job done. If they do, who cares what ties they have?