Thank you, Mr. Chair.
You have indicated that our questions should be on the estimates. As I have always been a bit difficult, I am declaring that my questions are not on the estimates. However old I get, I have always acted a bit like a teenager, and my father grouses about it to this day.
So in the same spirit of being difficult, Mr. Meyrand, I was almost thinking that your new job had made you forget your knowledge of French, given the length of your presentation in English compared to the one in French. Witnesses have the right to speak the language of their choice, but your predecessor's presentations were mostly 50% English and 50% French. I kept track: you spoke in English for 16 minutes and in French for 8 minutes. I suspect that my colleague Ms. Picard could say the same. I don't want to speak for my francophone colleagues from the Liberal Party, Mr. Proulx and Ms. Robillard. But I am sure that we were happy to see that you kept your French. Ms. Davidson will tell you how miserable I can get. She knows.
Back to your presentation. You say that since December 12, 2006, you have appointed 308 returning officers. Since this is a public document, would it be possible to provide the clerk with a table containing the 308 names? In fact, there are 305, since three positions are vacant. I would like to know which returning officers were already appointed, and which were appointed under the new regime. The Bloc Québecois is very pleased that Bill C-2guarantees an open and transparent process in this area. Could you send us the information as soon as possible?