Mr. Généreux, I said so already and I am happy to repeat that the Neo Lithium transaction has been reviewed. We ensured that it had no impact on national security. What is more, the transaction was subject to the additional process I implemented last March.
The element that those who are listening to us must understand is that the minister can begin investigating as soon as we become aware of a transaction, which may be well before the department is notified of the transaction. Under the act, the minister has the authority to investigate, to request the production of documents and to put questions to the company as soon as public information reaches us.
I know that you are concerned about the time. What I am saying is that the legislation allows us to investigate even before a notification is issued. There is only one national security analysis process and not two. It begins on the first day and consists of a number of steps.
When we conclude that the transaction poses no threat to national security, we terminate the investigation. We also receive recommendations from the country's national security agencies.