Mr. Bouffard then asked me if I was refusing. I answered that it was not exactly that, but that I could not accept unless I understood the reasons for the transaction. That was the conversation I had with Mr. Bouffard.
Some time later, that same morning, I received a call from Mr. Michel Rivard, who told me that he was part of the leadership of the Conservative Party and that he was telephoning me from Quebec City. He asked me why I had refused the money or the transaction proposed by Mr. Bouffard. I answered that it was because Mr. Bouffard would not or was not in a position to explain the purpose of the transfer. He then told me that the party was organizing something or other, I am not sure what exactly, because it was not expressed very clearly.
However, I did not doubt his sincerity. Once again, I am not sure that he knew himself what the purpose of the transfer was. He told me that the transfer had to do with advertising and that the party was organizing and that it would have a positive impact on my riding and other ridings in the Eastern Townships.