Well, quite possibly. I think this contract was not let to do the department's work. The contract was let as part of the minister's budget in the minister's office. It was not the department's budget. The expenditure was made from the minister's office to assist him with the political management of the budget preparation, including comments on the speech, liaison with other departments and ministers, and whatever they do in that area.
On May 13th, 2008. See this statement in context.