Christian Paradis - Corruption Allegations

Corruption Allegations

Opposition parties called for Paradis to step down following the resignation of his senior aide Sebastien Togneri on September 30, 2010. Paradis accepted the resignation of Togneri but refused to resign himself after allegations of political interference in access-to-information requests were reported in the Public Works ministry. Togneri is alleged to have interfered with at least four access-to-information requests while working for Paradis.

On October 3, 2010, MP Siobhan Coady requested the Information Commissioner of Canada investigate the PMO, Paradis and his Natural Resources Ministry staff. Coady claims Togneri "counselled or demanded that documents be withheld from the public,and engaged in a systematic, prolonged effort to block access-to-information requests." She further requested that the Information Commissioner look for examples of interference in other departments and any involvement of the PMO. Paradis aides Jillian Andrews and Marc Toupin also attempted to block access-to-information requests in the department according to emails obtained by the Parliamentary Ethics Committee.

Paradis is also facing allegations of providing favorable treatment to construction contractors seeking Federal Government business during a Conservative party fundraiser in the Montreal-area riding of Bourassa in January 2009. Initially Paradis told the House of Commons "At no time was there any discussion about government business, it was strictly a fundraising event.” Construction company owner Paul Sauvé, who organized the event, claimed that he heard Paradis talking about government contracts with Joseph Broccolini of Broccolini Construction. Paradis subsequently changed his story. Paradis now acknowledges that he discussed government business with a big construction contractor. Broccolini recalls “The only question I had time to ask the minister was about a project for which we submitted a proposal to a public bid process and that was cancelled afterwards" and “I just wanted to know if he was aware of the reason for the cancellation of the (request for proposals). The minister suggested I call his cabinet and someone there could perhaps ask the people at Public Works what the reason was. It was clear that the minister did not know and did not want to talk about it. We didn’t discuss any future projects or future work with the federal government." Broccolini’s company has received more than $650 million in government contracts.

Sauvé's company received a $9 million contract to renovate Parliament’s West Block. Sauvé and Gilles Varin, a Conservative Party organizer, are the subject of a RCMP probe relating to the West Block renovation contract. Opposition politicians allege a Conservative staffer interfered with the bid process of the West Block renovation contract to allow Sauvé's company to qualify for the work. Sauvé paid $140,000 to Gilles Varin who subsequently discussed the contract with Bernard Côté, a staffer representing Michael Fortier who was Minister of Public Works at the time. On September 21, 2007, the Public Works Department amended clauses in the bid which allowed Sauvé to submit a bid for work in which the company was previously unqualified to do. Paradis took over the Public Works portfolio after Michael Fortier lost the 2008 election. Sauvé's January 2009 fundraiser was attended by West Block contractors who paid $500 to $1000 to meet with Paradis.