Thank you very much, Chair.
I'd like to thank our guests for their testimony today. It's rather interesting. I'm not sure whether you're here a little too early or a little too late in the process. But I do appreciate the comments.
I find this to be a very compelling series of dialogues.
I'd like to remind colleagues, if I can, as an opening comment, that actually the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman was created by this government back in 2006, and it was precisely to reinforce Canadians' confidence in the procurement process. I've had the opportunity to meet Mr. Minto. I want to remind colleagues as well, so that there's no confusion about this, that his retirement was totally voluntary and well deserved, if I might say. We thank him for his service in that regard.
If I might, Ms. Trombetti, you were hoping to provide a comment after my colleague from the Bloc asked a question related to the potential for conflict of interest as it relates to Public Works. I'm moved by your comments. You said in your testimony that neutrality is one of the core principles, that you're neither a lobbyist for suppliers nor an apologist for government. And that resonates with me. You asked for that opportunity to respond. Could I give you that opportunity, please, to respond now?