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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 75

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 19, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:24:25 p.m.
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Madam Chair, if anyone wants translation into French, then we would provide that. If the member is asking about specific contracts that currently exist in two different languages, I am happy to have my team follow up with her and provide her with those exact details. I do not have that number off the top of my head.
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Mrs. Julie Vignola
  • May/19/22 7:24:47 p.m.
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Madam Chair, we have talked about Cisco and sole-source procurement several times at the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, and I have asked the minister about it. What concrete action have the department and the minister taken to ensure that the government receives the best available prices for computer equipment?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:25:11 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I wish to begin by assuring the member that whenever we are procuring, we always want to ensure that we are getting the best product for the best price. We have rigorous procurement measures that take place, and we are going to continue with that. We recognize that these are taxpayers' dollars. In every procurement project, it is important that we are getting value, and that is the process that we will continue to undertake for every procurement.
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Mrs. Julie Vignola
  • May/19/22 7:25:39 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I would like the minister to tell me what measures are in place to ensure the best price from Cisco when only that company can bid.
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:25:58 p.m.
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Madam Chair, it is important to point out here that there are specific requirements with respect to each project. Whenever possible, we have competition because we know this is the best value we are going to get, and we can look at the 88 fighter jets, but there are times when it is necessary to match up the operability—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/19/22 7:26:20 p.m.
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The hon. member for Beauport—Limoilou.
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Mrs. Julie Vignola
  • May/19/22 7:26:22 p.m.
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Madam Chair, there is not actually any competition when there is only Cisco and resellers of Cisco products. Competition would involve companies that sell something other than Cisco products. How many contracts have been offered to companies that sell something other than Cisco products?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:26:51 p.m.
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Madam Chair, as I said, we always want a competitive process. If in fact there is an instance where it has to be a Cisco product because of matching up in terms of operability, then we are limited in that regard, but we are transitioning away from that. That is the approach we are taking in the future, because we know that at the end of the day we want as much competition as possible.
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Mrs. Julie Vignola
  • May/19/22 7:27:17 p.m.
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Madam Chair, Cisco is not the only company in Canada that meets international Internet and other technology standards. We should break out of this cycle. Shared Services Canada has requested an additional $60 million for its 2022-23 budget. What is the reason for this? How much of that will go to Cisco or to a company that resells Cisco products?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:27:48 p.m.
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Madam Chair, when we are procuring these contracts, this is the amount we have set aside. We do not know yet who is going to be the successful bidder in that. When we are looking for successful bidders, we are always looking for those that are the most competitive, have the best value and are going to meet the needs that we have in order to ensure that we are getting the product that is going to best serve Canadians.
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Mrs. Julie Vignola
  • May/19/22 7:28:12 p.m.
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Madam Chair, what is being done to ensure that there is no dumping by any company to undercut the competition?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:28:25 p.m.
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Madam Chair, in all aspects, we are doing everything we possibly can so that, at the end of the day, we are procuring in a responsible way that best serves the needs of Canadians.
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Mrs. Julie Vignola
  • May/19/22 7:28:43 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the government is paying a fortune for tenders that allow companies such as Cisco and Microsoft to secure a monopoly. Why should taxpayers be paying a fortune to line the pockets of foreign companies? They are often the same ones. They are the ones with huge profit margins, not the resellers, which get 65% discounts on products in order to do business with the government. If there is open competition with other companies, it is an 85% discount. When a specific company is getting an exclusive contract, why does that company not offer the same discounts that it gives to its resellers?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:29:32 p.m.
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Madam Chair, in many instances, there are Canadian subsidiaries to companies, so we need to look at that as well. At the end of the day, in terms of the procurement, we are always doing whatever we can to ensure that it is competitive, that it is fair, that it is open and that our procurement is responsible and going to fit the needs of Canadians in whatever product we are procuring. I want to take this moment to thank procurement officials, officers and specialists who are working so hard in order to ensure that we get the very products that we need. COVID-19 is a perfect example. When we look at everything we have procured, the specialities these procurement officers provided are second to none, and I want to thank them.
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Mrs. Julie Vignola
  • May/19/22 7:30:21 p.m.
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Madam Chair, in August or September 2019, it was announced that the Davie shipyard had pre-qualified for the national shipbuilding strategy. What is the current status of negotiations? What is holding them up?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:30:40 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I want to assure my colleague that we are working very closely with Chantier Davie. We are working hand in hand, we have been, and we will continue to do so. We thank Davie. It is a strong and reliable partner, and we look forward to continuing to work with it.
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Mrs. Julie Vignola
  • May/19/22 7:31:04 p.m.
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Madam Chair, if things are going so well, when will the qualification be made official?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:31:12 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the qualification will be made official when the qualifications have been met. We know there is a strong relationship there and we continue to work with Chantier Davie. The conversations are going very well.
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Mrs. Julie Vignola
  • May/19/22 7:31:26 p.m.
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Madam Chair, sometimes my memory plays tricks on me. How many years did it take for Irving and Seaspan to qualify?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 7:31:36 p.m.
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Madam Chair, we do not want to compromise the requirements. We want to work with Chantier Davie to get it to satisfy those requirements. That is exactly what we are doing.
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