Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We have the benefit of hindsight now and might want to take advantage of that hindsight to understand what happened and why it happened and to challenge the decision to fire an independent tribunal commissioner, because it's an unprecedented and, in my opinion, inappropriate intervention.
For the benefit of those independent institutions that protect Canadians, this decision, this extraordinary action, has to be tested before future governments—in fact, the current government or the future government, if the Conservatives are in opposition—can know whether it's a good decision or a bad decision.
These are important discussions that are taking place, and I know the Conservatives are not usually comfortable with questions, but this is part of our job. We have to ask these questions.
Deputy Minister, you're familiar with the guide for ministers under the title, “Accountable Government: A Guide for Ministers and Secretaries of State”?
I'm going to quote an excerpt from it. It says:
Ministers and their staff are also expected not to intervene, or appear to intervene, on behalf of anyone, including constituents, with quasi-judicial tribunals on any matter before them....
Being the principal advisor to the minister, did you advise the minister on these two phone calls or the firing and on the fact that it would appear to be in contravention of this guideline?