Thank you, Chair, and thank you to Madame Ouimet.
It's an interesting resumé, and I took note of your experience with Customs. My father was a career public servant with Revenue Canada, Customs and Excise, and he retired just as you began there. So it's an interesting background. I think you have some skills that are well suited for the position, and I am glad we have passed the legislation and that we're moving on, because I honestly believe there were gaps in the previous legislation.
I was wholeheartedly supportive of the changes in Bill C-2 because some things needed to be changed, and I think the tribunal was one. I think it was important to have a clear pathway for public servants to be able to go where they'll have a speedy resolution, or as quickly as possible, and I was concerned the previous legislation was putting them into a process that would have been problematic and wouldn't have a speedy resolution. Certainly when we had testimony at committee, it was clear there was a huge backlog with the previous remedy. So I'm glad to see we have the dual pathway in the present legislation, and I fully support that.
Being in Ottawa and connected to a lot of people in this community, I have had the opportunity to know many whistle-blowers. First of all, were you aware, or were you involved at any time with a case, which is well known in this town and indeed across the country, of Dr. Chopra, Dr. Hayden, and Lambert? Do you know the case they have currently, and were you involved in any way with their situation? You probably are aware they were dismissed in 2004 and currently are fighting their case. I know it doesn't have any effect or bearing on what your position would be—it wouldn't be affected by this legislation—but I'm just curious if you knew about their case or had any involvement with it at all.