Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate being able to respond.
First of all, I would like to say that my understanding initially, when this arrangement was being proposed, was that the 60% that would be claimed against that money would be retained by the Conservative fund. Later it was decided it would be available to the riding associations.
Second, I was asked if I had been requested not to respond to the media after this came out in the media. In fact, yes, I did receive a call from someone who told me I should not respond to this question in the media. The person was probably unaware that I was one of the people involved in the media discussion.
Third, when the Conservative Party decided to launch a lawsuit against Elections Canada, Mr. Rivard offered the services of the lawyers of the legal party, because we were initially all cited in the summation in that lawsuit. Eventually the judge decided to remove all but two. But at that point I told him, no, I would not take advantage of the services of the Conservative Party lawyer.
Finally, I would like to add that my financial agent—and I would like to take the occasion to congratulate him—did in fact read the manual.
Finally, I have a suggestion. Whether it be the Conservative Party or any other party, I think this mechanism of a fund by the central party through which all the money is channelled—for example, even the initial $1,000 deposit was made by that fund, the payment of the posters was managed by that fund, and that's why we were not able to claim it—this mechanism whereby candidates delegate, because we did, our authority in this regard to a central fund be re-examined. I think it poses a serious problem with regard to the independence and the accountability of the candidate at the local level.
Finally, I want to thank the chairman, but I must say that after having watched the performance of certain members of this committee I'm in fact really quite worried about the future of our parliamentary institutions.