OTTAWA – Former natural resources minister Joe Oliver’s office paid Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s ex-chief of staff more than $5,600 to write a speech that was never used – a practice the department calls uncommon.
In March 2013, Oliver, now the finance minister, paid for two speeches from Guy Giorno, Harper’s chief of staff between 2008 to 2010. Giorno now works as a partner at law firm Fasken Martineau, and also co-chaired the Conservatives’ 2011 election campaign.
One speech, about engaging aboriginal communities in resource development, cost $2,825 and was delivered on March 19 in Terrace, B.C, the department of natural resources said.
But another speech that cost $5,650 and invoiced on March 30 – one day before the fiscal year was up – was never delivered, the department said.
Spokeswoman Cathy Khoury said the speech was drafted for a post-budget event in 2013 “that did not take place.” The budget was delivered by former finance minister Jim Flaherty on March 21, 2013.
“It is not common for speeches to be written and not delivered,” Khoury wrote in an email to Global News.
“That said, Minister’s (sic) schedules are often in flux due to competing demands on their time – this is what happened in this instance.”
The unused speech, which the department provided to Global News, is a wide-ranging document that mentions responsible resource development, engaging First Nations, and the importance of science.
“It matters what science will say,” a copy of the speech reads.
“Remember that, as a non-scientist, I have been asking some of the same questions that you are, and looking forward to scientists’ answers.
“This is why we are investing in the best scientific research, and relying on the results.”
The speech, which clocked in at 2,065 words, means Giorno was paid about $2.70 a word.
Liberal MP David McGuinty said Oliver has “some explaining to do.”
“I would dare say there’s half a dozen writers and communications people employed full-time at the Natural Resources department that could have written that,” he said in an interview.
“Why aren’t we relying on the good people we have?”
Oliver’s spokeswoman directed questions to the department of natural resources.
The Liberals accused Oliver on Wednesday of contravening both Treasury Board and natural resources’ rules by paying Giorno for the speeches after they had already been written.
Paul Calandra, parliamentary secretary to the prime minister, defended Oliver in the House of Commons, saying he expects all Treasury Board guidelines to be followed.
But documents obtained by the Liberals say “after-the-fact” payment goes against government policies.
“Please keep in mind that after-the-fact contracting contravenes both the Treasury Board and the NRCan Contracting Policies,” wrote Anne Joly, senior procurement clerk at Natural Resources, on March 28, 2013.
“After the fact and verbal contracting pose unnecessary risks to the Crown and should be avoided.”
Natural resources now blames the “after-the-fact” payment on “urgent timelines and administrative error.”
“The department was satisfied that goods were received so it approved and processed the payment in question,” Khoury wrote in an email.
The documents say Oliver contracted the services “as they offered a quick turnaround time and our Minister is comfortable with the style and tone of this speechwriter.” The invoices are signed by his then-chief of staff David Forestell.
In a statement, Giorno confirmed he wrote the speeches, and was cleared by the conflict of interest and ethics commissioner.
While the documents obtained by the Liberals said the speeches cost $9,209.50, Giorno said in a follow-up email they were actually $8,475 with HST.
The department confirmed the speeches cost $8,475.
Below is a copy of the speech:
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