Okay, I'm going to interject here, Mr. Gagliano, and quote from a memo of July 16, 2001. You were the minister at that time. This is a memo from Mario Arès to Linda LeBrun, and so on, regarding Economic Development Canada. It says:
I am writing to ask for your support, in raising the issue of the CED file with headquarters again.
More than a month ago, we informed the Minister's office of our accommodation strategy for CED, our client. On June 8,
—when you were the minister—
after a meeting with J. M. Bard,
—your executive assistant—
we were told to put the CED file on hold.
I'm trying to understand, Mr. Gagliano, your statement where you said you had no capacity to influence anything, you could only be informed, and we have documentation right here that says your executive assistant, who seems to have a lot more authority than you ever had, put things on hold.
What's going on here?