I don't know. This is the first time I've found that when I read those documents. I have no clue. The only information I had on this file was the memo from the deputy minister on July 31, I believe, informing me that the decision of the department was to go and tender publicly, and the tender was started.
I read all the documents. The only comment I can make on this is that my staff was asking questions. Therefore, they were waiting for answers from the bureaucrats and the file did not proceed as expediently. But I don't think there was a stop. My staff didn't have any authority to stop anything. The deputy minister would have definitely come to see me on that. I think they were asking questions and the answers were slow in coming, so there was a bit of delay.
In fairness to the process, from February 2001, that's when the client department asked to start the process, and the letter of interest would open at the beginning of September 2001...I think it's a reasonable amount of time.