Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank my colleague from the Bloc Québécois.
I do hope you will give me that extra minute.
Justice Cromwell, I wanted to come to an issue that has been festering out there. I first asked Hockey Canada about this in the month of August, which is the issue of the compensation given to board members. A whistle-blower indicated there were luxury lunches of $5,000 for a board of 12 people, luxury hotels and fine jewellery, championship rings, at $3,000 each, provided to board members. We finally received an answer about the jewellery, which was that the whistle-blower was correct on the rings. For the luxury dining, the $5,000 board lunches, we have never received a response from Hockey Canada.
You point out in your report very clearly that you recommend that the board not be compensated, but what is your feeling about this type of compensation the board has received? Did you come across these examples? Is there any confirmation of these fairly significant amounts, particularly when we talk about hockey parents across the country who scrimp and save to put their daughters or sons into Hockey Canada programs?
The allegations seem a bit rich in terms of board spending.
What is your reaction to this, and is this why you were suggesting it is important that the board not be compensated?