Barton previously served as Canada's ambassador to China, adviser to former finance minister Bill Morneau
Darren Major · CBC News · Posted: Feb 01, 2023 2:34 PM EST | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago
Dominic Barton waits to appear as a witness at the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, Wednesday, February 1, 2023 in Ottawa.
Dominic Barton waits to appear as a witness at the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, Wednesday, February 1, 2023 in Ottawa. The committee is looking into consulting contracts awarded to McKinsey & Company. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
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Dominic Barton, McKinsey & Company's former global managing director, told a House of Commons committee Wednesday he has played no role in the federal government's decisions to grant contracts to the consulting firm.
The Commons committee on government operations agreed to probe contracts granted to the consulting firm after Radio-Canada revealed that the Liberal government awarded $66 million in business to the firm — a number that rises to $100 million when new contracts, signed in recent months, are included in the total.
By comparison, the Conservative government under former prime minister Stephen Harper awarded McKinsey $2.2 million in federal contracts while in power.
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Questioned by MPs, Barton insisted he had no involvement in any contracts granted to McKinsey over the past few decades.
"I had no involvement whatsoever in any awarding of paid work to McKinsey by the federal government since I relocated to Asia in 1996," he told the committee.
The Liberal government's relationship with Barton has come under scrutiny related to questions about the extent of the firm's influence on federal policy.
Barton was the chair of an advisory council on economic growth for former finance minister Bill Morneau and later served as Canada's ambassador to China.
WATCH | PM says former McKinsey director has 'served his country in many ways':
PM says former McKinsey director ‘has certainly served his country in many ways’
9 hours ago
Duration1:18
DESCRIPTION: During question period, Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre questioned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about former McKinsey director Dominic Barton, who is to appear before a Commons committee later today.
Since Parliament returned earlier this week following a six-week hiatus, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has used the McKinsey contracts as a line of attack on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Poilievre contrasted the contracts with the effects of the rising cost of living on Canadians.
"Not everyone is suffering. The high-price consultants are making off like bandits," he said.
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Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie questioned Barton about his relationship with Trudeau.
"Would you consider yourself a friend of the prime minister?" Kussie asked.
"No, I'm not a friend. I have a professional relationship [with him]," Barton said in response. "I don't have his personal phone number and I haven't been in a room alone with him."
WATCH | Barton faces parliamentary committee:
High number of federal contracts awarded to McKinsey under scrutiny
2 hours ago
Duration2:29
The skyrocketing value of federal contracts awarded to one consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, was under the microscope during a parliamentary committee hearing Wednesday.
In his opening statement to the committee, Barton noted that he had acted as an adviser to the previous Conservative government.
In an effort to put the debate to rest, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather followed Kusie's line of questioning by asking more about Barton and Trudeau's relationship. Housefather asked if Trudeau was one of his "50 best friends," if they exchanged birthday gifts, and if they had ever exercised together.
Barton answered "no" to all of Housefather's questions. He insisted throughout the heated, two-hour long meeting that he had no personal relationship with Trudeau. Barton also claimed the first time he met Trudeau was when he was in an elevator on his way to meet with former Conservative finance minister Jim Flaherty.
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mckinsey-committee-probe-dominic-barton-testify-1.6733515
