I can certainly explain that, and I did explain it.
There again, you might not agree with my reasons. But as I saw what happened with Hockey Canada, whether you agree with it or not, I felt that the committee was used in that incident for the wrong reasons. I also thought that the meeting I cancelled was going to be used for the wrong reason.
We had a situation where this was before the courts. We had public servants coming who really couldn't say a whole lot. We had the commissioner, who was coming out within days with a report. Someone along the line said that I cancelled because I didn't want to talk about the court challenges program. That wasn't the case at all. I never, ever said that. What I said is that the court challenges program would be dealt with, but I thought the timing would be better when we had the commissioner's report and when the court case was resolved, so that people could speak freely.
Those were my reasons. I seriously thought the committee, on this issue, was going to be used to play political games. Those are my reasons. Whether they're acceptable or not, that's what they were.
By the way, I'm prepared to answer any other question. This was a decision that I made with the best of intentions. I do apologize for the timing of it, but the decision was taken in good faith.
Pierre Lemieux.