Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
What the officials provided to us is important to note. I think the act is actually very clear in saying that you will not have delegated authority unless you have been given written authority by the minister.
I don't know; I'm not that smart, but I would never think that I have the authority to do things that only the minister can do, under any circumstances. It just wouldn't even cross my mind that I would have that kind of authority.
From what we understand, apparently it has never happened that authority has been given to a parliamentarian in the way that it's suggested or might be understood to have been given. That written authority from the minister has never been given to parliamentarians, as far as the official could recollect from her last 30 years or so with the department.
This situation is a matter that is being dealt with in the court. By the way, it's also a situation that this committee is studying, and we have not completed that study.
From my perspective, the language is very clear in the act. People should abide by what is in the act.