This confirms what Mr. Bélair told us. I would point out however that Ms. Buckler registered as a lobbyist as of June 22, 2005. I think that there is, thus, an important ethics problem, since two Royal LePage representatives have told us that she began to lobby committee members in the month of May, since you were interested in the work of that committee, while she has not yet registered as a lobbyist. I want the committee to take note of this, as well as you.
I would like to put a question to Mr. Marshall. Last November 28, the Auditor General, Ms. Fraser, stated in her report that this contract had not been awarded in a fair and equitable way. Minister Fortier replied that same day to journalists who asked him what he intended to do about that that the contract was valid until 2009. I suppose that Mr. Fortier was aware of procedures and of the fact that this report would eventually be studied by the Public Accounts Committee. It is as though he made statements without waiting for the review by the Public Accounts Committee.
Since you are the deputy minister, did you recommend that he state that the contract was valid until 2009? If that is the case, did you contact the Privy Council Office before making such a recommendation? Can you tell us whether there was communication between the minister's office and the Prime Minister's office in this regard?