Thank you, Mr. Chair, for that question.
I am familiar with my predecessor's appearance here. It was a very lively debate, as we all recall. That whole issue obviously is a very challenging one for government lawyers before parliamentary committees. I'm certainly bound by solicitor-client privilege. That obviously comes from my professional responsibilities as a member of the bar--in this case, the Nova Scotia bar association or bar society--and to that extent, when answering questions before any body, including this body and parliamentary committees, I have to be very conscious of that.
I will undertake always to do my very best to answer all questions that I'm able to, but at the end of the day, I hope folks will understand, Mr. Chair in particular, that as a government adviser I am in a difficult and challenging position and I hope that the committee would take cognizance of that when posing questions.