Thank you very much. Over the past three years, I've had the opportunity to comment on the Public Accounts of Canada. I brought up concerns about spending related to legal fees and out-of-court settlements. Within the Department of Justice, the number of prosecutors asked to defend disputes related to problems in the awarding of contracts have increased in the past two fiscal years.
Does the department have a directive or policy that explains this increase and that justifies holding proceedings that have proven to be very costly? I would like your analysis of this situation.