Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Clark, it's very concerning because there are some inconsistencies in the timelines and the testimony that you are giving the committee today.
I'm just going to outline the first one that is very concerning to me, as well to as the committee.
You were appointed in February 2023. Then we see you in a motorcade on April 28, 2023, with the Prime Minister, the individual who does the appointments, and in that video, in the motorcade, you say that, in fact, the Prime Minister was over at your place the evening before—the residence—on the 27th. Then, lo and behold, Global Affairs Canada, which had put the project of a new residence on hold, all of a sudden, after your appointment, your dinner with the Prime Minister and then being in the motorcade with the Prime Minister, decides there are issues with the current residence and that it is time to look for a new residence—a $9-million residence, apparently. Isn't that convenient?
Can you elaborate for the committee again, please, what your implication was in discussing the new residence with the department and with the Prime Minister? When did you first bring it up with the Prime Minister?
The chronological timeline would definitely indicate that you had conversations with the Prime Minister about the residence. I mean, isn't it funny that you would be appointed, you would have dinner with the Prime Minister, you would be in a motorcade with the Prime Minister, and lo and behold, Global Affairs Canada decides that it's time for a new residence after that visit? Isn't that funny?
Just tell the committee now when you had the conversations with the Prime Minister about the new residence because that's what happened. Isn't that right, Mr. Clark?