Thank you very much, Chair.
Again, it's always interesting and educational for us to receive a representative from the Auditor General's office. Thank you very much, Mr. Hayes, for being here to walk us through some of the process.
Indeed, I think this is an example of where initiatives were taken, and rightfully so, in the objective manner that they should be. A situation was brought to the attention of the Auditor General's office. If I understand correctly, it was referred. I'd like to have your comments on that again, as to why it was referred to the Privy Council Office, or how that works. Now this decision has come forward, independent of any request that was made by Parliament for the Auditor General's office to do an audit.
Can you explain a bit again about that initial process for Canadians to understand, to reassure Canadians about the independent process that we have here—the institutions that work on behalf of Canadians to ensure that funds are properly deployed—and the process that makes your office conduct an audit of this kind?