Transport committee  I haven't asked the question yet.

Transport committee  I haven't even asked the question yet, Madam Chair.

Transport committee  You can't call it out until I've asked the question.

Transport committee  Madam Chair, SNC is a partner within the Champlain Bridge, so I believe they're entirely relevant to this committee. I'll continue with my question, if you don't mind.

Transport committee  Did the Minister of Infrastructure or his staff ever talk to you or anyone else in the department about SNC and the case before the courts?

Transport committee  Did you or your department ever prepare memos or briefings of any kind—

Transport committee  Madam Chair, absolutely they're not.

Transport committee  Madam Chair, in the estimates we have the Champlain Bridge. We have the Champlain Bridge here before us. SNC is—

Transport committee  Your government is talking about jobs and SNC. I'm directly tying this right to SNC and the jobs.

Transport committee  Madam Chair, you can't shut me down. I have three more minutes left in my line of questioning.

Transport committee  Okay. Did your department ever prepare memos or briefings of any kind for the minister and/or his staff on how charges could affect SNC-Lavalin and infrastructure contracts that are ongoing or in the future?

Transport committee  It is absolutely not unrelated, Madam Chair. A major bridge in Quebec is under construction by a company that is under investigation right now. The Champlain Bridge folks are here. You don't have to protect this deputy minister. She's more than capable of answering the questions herself.

Transport committee  How is the question out of order? Explain to me how the question is out of order, Madam Chair.

Transport committee  Madam Chair, I suggest that you don't shut me down. This is exactly what your government is under suspicion for. You're shutting down people right now, and to shut me down for my line of questioning—

Transport committee  I just did, Madam Chair.