Public Accounts committee  No, I just want to say thank you.

Public Accounts committee  That's correct.

Public Accounts committee  I told him there could possibly be additional costs. I presented it as a possibility.

Public Accounts committee  That's correct. There were about 30 of them.

Public Accounts committee  At the time that I was there, as I recall, there were 14 offices across the regions of Quebec.

Public Accounts committee  No. I had no involvement whatsoever in those discussions, because the regional offices are small entities. All the negotiations and discussions took place between managers at my office and Public Works. So, I never encountered that kind of situation.

Public Accounts committee  I would have agreed with Mr. Arès's comments had he been unable to bargain down the price with owners of Place Victoria. It's important to remember that they did lower the price from $430 to $308.

Public Accounts committee  Yes. I mentioned that I had personally signed a letter agreeing to move to Place Bonaventure.

Public Accounts committee  Once the negotiations between Public Works and the owners of Place Victoria were completed, I had to accept the fact that we were going to stay there. I became involved at the end of the process, but I did not take part in the negotiations. That was not my role.

Public Accounts committee  I was Chair of the Quebec Federal Council which brings together the administrators of federal departments in Quebec. Consequently, I knew that a number of departments needed office space. I assumed, rightly or wrongly, that a number of those departments could use that accommodation.

Public Accounts committee  Those who commented on it informally were pleased to be staying at Place Victoria.

Public Accounts committee  I'm sorry, I did not catch your question.

Public Accounts committee  Personally, I have never seen that sort of thing.

Public Accounts committee  Yes.

Public Accounts committee  Yes. I'm not sure whether if you asked them that now, they would still agree, for the reasons I mentioned previously—including the fact that there had been no improvements made whatsoever. But, initially, they were happy to stay there.