Thank you very much.
I have a very brief comment I would like to make. I have never clearly told the committee that, as former leader of the official opposition in Ontario and provincial premier, I knew Rémy Beauregard quite well and worked closely with him. I always found that he was a highly intelligent man with great integrity. Knowing him as I did over the years, I was frankly astonished by the comments that I read and heard, as were many others.
I would first like to thank Ms. Trépanier for the courage she has shown in testifying here today and for presenting a key perspective on the conflict experienced within the board of directors. I do not think that her remarks can be brushed off. The many problems that existed within the board, and that have been created since, must be dealt with.
My first question is mainly for Mr. Akhavan.
Mr. Akhavan, I was reading an article by Mr. Cooper in the April 7 Calgary Herald. Mr. Cooper is a professor at the University of Calgary. I'm sure you're familiar with him. He claims to have received information from a member of the board, Mr. Marco Navarro-Genie. Mr. Cooper states in his article that Mr. Navarro-Genie told him that
...between May 2009 and January 2010, Beauregard managed to turn several "international" members of the board against the performance review committee by granting them favours, including travel perks, interns, and funding for projects in their home countries....
These are serious allegations again. There seems to be a pattern on the part of board members of making very consequential allegations against Mr. Beauregard, which he's not in a position to respond to, which I find deplorable, I must say.
Since you were a member of the board, could you comment on this? Could you also comment on any allegation with respect to any conflicts you may have been under, or allegedly under, during your time as a member of the board?