Mr. Speaker, nevertheless, the minister cannot deny that she said on December 16 that grants had all been given with prior authorization by her department.
Why did she make such a statement when she knew then that the Ropak company in the riding of Anjou—Rivière-des-Prairies had received an unapproved grant of $181,174 in 1996-97, with approval being given only in January 1999?