Thank you, Mr. Chair. You're becoming very liberal.
Mr. Hawn says that double-dipping isn't necessarily a bad thing. I would say many politicians could be accused of double-dipping. It's logical, obviously. If you were in one profession and you then retire, you take up another profession. I don't have a difficulty with that.
I think the Treasury Board Secretariat was very clear that contracts with former employees receiving government pensions may prompt accusations that public funds are being abused or influence is inappropriately exerted when the contract is awarded, particularly if those involved occupied more senior positions or took early retirement.
There's obviously a public perception. Part of our job and indeed your job is to explain why these people are coming on board and to respond accordingly. It's not an epidemic. As you indicated, it's now one in four, and it's continuing to go down, but I think it's part of public education.