Thank you very much, Mr. Sweet.
Before we go to the second round, I just have a couple of questions from the chair to you, Mr. St-Jean. These questions aren't personal because you weren't appointed when these situations were going on.
You're part of Treasury Board, and it's my understanding that the role of Treasury Board is to provide financial direction, guidance, and oversight to these departments. Its role is to ensure that the departments and agencies have the capacity, that the people in there are trained, that they understand their roles, that transactions will be done in accordance with the Financial Administration Act, Treasury Board guidelines, that there is a properly functioning internal audit, and that the reports coming out of the agency are all in accordance with the Financial Administration Act. Obviously, in this case, this was not done.
I have three questions. Do you agree with me that Treasury Board failed Canadians? My second question is why? And my third question is, have steps been taken that this will never happen again?