Government Operations committee  Yes.

Government Operations committee  Pardon me?

Government Operations committee  I remember that it was at that time, but I don't exactly remember what it concerned.

Government Operations committee  Pardon me?

Government Operations committee  No, never.

Government Operations committee  I don't really remember the case, sir. I really don't remember. It was, at any event, a case that had nothing to do with the government. It was Quebec's occupational training commissions at that time, where I had been a director general from 1969 to 1972 or something like that.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Sauvé called me up one day to meet with me. He told me he had done so on a recommendation by a member of his board of directors. I don't know which of the members it was. It was a board of a number of individuals. I had been recommended to Mr. Sauvé in that context.

Government Operations committee  I advised Mr. Sauvé on a number of files from the moment I was there. When I started working with Mr. Sauvé, we were far from thinking about the contract the Canadian government is concerned about right now, that is to say the contract to renovate the Parliament buildings. We didn't even talk about it when I arrived.

Government Operations committee  He continued to pay me. So he must have been satisfied.

Government Operations committee  I provided Mr. Sauvé with strategic advice on what he should do and on the kind of advertising he could use. I distributed a lot of his brochures throughout the business world, in the private sector, virtually everywhere where business could be done. I introduced him to general contractors because he acted as a subcontractor more often than not.

Government Operations committee  I don't remember submitting CVs. I may have distributed a brochure, but I didn't do so to a senior official, or to a minister, or to a minister's political attaché or any other person.

Government Operations committee  Look, I may have given Mr. Sauvé's CV or a brochure to Mr. Pichet. We met him entirely by chance at a restaurant. I introduced him to Mr. Sauvé. So it's possible I gave that to him at that time, but I don't remember submitting it to him more particularly.

Government Operations committee  I've known Mr. Pichet for about 23 years. He even worked on certain files with me at his law firm.

Government Operations committee  No, not at all, but I still meet him regularly. We often eat at the same restaurant, and sometimes I simply go there to say hello. I've no doubt previously discussed politics with him.

Government Operations committee  What was going on with Mr. Sauvé?