Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I’ll be rather quick.
Mr. von Finckenstein, it is convenient for the Prime Minister’s Office or for a minister to use your name or your position as Ethics Commissioner to justify what seems to be indefensible in public. It’s enough to say a request was made of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, who preapproved the trip. Some ministers are ready to say whatever it takes to defend their prime minister, who, by the way, was found guilty twice of breaching the Conflict of Interest Act.
We had a little exchange earlier about Mr. Steven MacKinnon’s statements. I went to check them; I can send you the audio clip if you want. In a press conference on January 8, Mr. MacKinnon said the following: "The Prime Minister followed all the rules; he spoke to the Ethics Commissioner to have his travel plans preapproved."
Is that correct?