I would like to make a comment before I begin. The last time I saw a chairman with an opened copy of Marleau and Montpetit in front of him, it was when Alphonso Gagliano testified about the sponsorship scandal. The Conservatives were really unhappy with the fact that the chairman was so inflexible regarding questions about his appointment as ambassador to Denmark. No questions could be asked other than those deemed acceptable by the chair or the members of the Liberal Party. It is funny to see the shoe on the other foot today, don't you think?
Welcome, Mr. Hermanson. In order to judge the competence of a person, one must obviously take a look at his past, the actions taken and the statements made. Since you were a member of Parliament from 1993 to 1997, you had the opportunity to participate in many debates in the House of Commons or in Committee.
I would like to know, first of all, as a purely technical matter, what is the amount of your salary.