Government Operations committee  My parliamentary experience says these questions are not in order, even if the chair doesn't want to rule them out of order, but I will answer this—

Government Operations committee  —and the chair of caucus, I understand the importance of cabinet secrecy, caucus secrecy, and I made a point after I left politics never to ask my wife about what is going on in that capacity, nor would I tell her about businesses I was involved in, so as to protect her. That's simply an understanding that I have from my experience in politics.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Martin, I am disappointed that you continue to allege things that you have no basis of truth for--

Government Operations committee  I find it ironic that the one member who said he didn't want this committee to turn into a circus has now turned it into one, Madam Chair. I think the crux of the matter and the only thing I can come back to say is that, specifically, our business as outlined under GPG's mandate is to look at new opportunities for new technologies in new markets and to work with those particular clients to see how we can access those particular markets.

Government Operations committee  Madam Chair, is this a valid question with what we're studying?

Government Operations committee  No, of course not. I don't have any--

Government Operations committee  Pardon?

Government Operations committee  But I don't understand the questioning here. Why is this relevant?

Government Operations committee  No. I can say wholeheartedly that was never the case.

Government Operations committee  That's right. As I said, that wasn't the focus of our business.

Government Operations committee  I think for me the experience came from a couple of different fronts. One was obviously that through a number of years of serving as an MP you make a number of connections in the private sector. One of the things I wanted to focus on, in trying to develop a business that was focused on the private sector, was working with a number of individuals and businesses to look particularly--as I said in my statement--at new technologies and opportunities in emerging markets.

Government Operations committee  No, because you have to take a step back. Prior to being in politics--and even in the time after and when I was in politics--I had my own private business. Before I entered politics I ran a small business, owned property, and was involved in family business. I've had different experiences in business.

Government Operations committee  After we were introduced to the company, I recused myself because we decided we were not going to do any business. There was no ability to do business with them. So I believe that Mr. Wright approached my wife for a separate issue. I think it was to do with a landfill problem in part of her riding.

Government Operations committee  I don't know how this is relating to this study.

Government Operations committee  But I will answer the question.