Senator Plett: You are right, Senator Gold; I received the same information about 12 minutes ago. That does not preclude the fact that this was done. They have now suspended it because of, clearly, pressure being put on them by people who are doing due diligence — which clearly is not the government.

Senator Gold, there is absolutely no excuse for this gross negligence when it comes to protecting our national security. The government has — and had — a responsibility to use the tools at its disposal to screen and vet its bidders. Why did your government choose not to do this?

Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Gold, your government’s decision to award an RCMP contract to Sinclair Technologies — a company with ties to the Chinese state — with no regard for our national security, is indeed troubling. Based on details that are coming to light, it seems that the government settled on the lowest bidder without conducting any due diligence in the bidding process.

According to reports, Sinclair Technologies’ main competitor for the RCMP contract was Compro, a Quebec-based communications technology firm. The difference between their respective bids was less than $60,000.

To put this into perspective, government leader, the Prime Minister had no problem blowing that amount of money in less than one week on a lavish hotel room at the Corinthia Hotel for Canada’s delegation to the Queen’s funeral. But when it comes to our national security, he is trying to cut corners.

Senator Gold, why is the Prime Minister willing to go to the lowest bidder when it comes to our national security, but not go to the lowest bidder when it comes to lavish expenses for himself? Would you not agree that this reflects some deeply troubling issues about the Prime Minister’s priorities?