Government Operations committee  Look, our position has always stayed the same. Our position has always been that we did not submit any application or any demand for funding. You see--

Government Operations committee  I went back and checked my e-mails. I was able to check: two different proposals were submitted, and in those two proposals, Wright Tech was not one of them. I don't know if Wright Tech has been--

Government Operations committee  Well, look, I have a copy--

Government Operations committee  Well, I mean, look....

Government Operations committee  In response to your first question, with regard to Mr. Brian Jean, there is no he-said, she-said. Basically, it's on the words that have been used. Mr. Jean mentioned there was a proposal; we mentioned that it was an executive summary. However, at the end it's a document that was submitted for the purpose of establishing whether there was an interest and for the purpose of gathering information and submitting information.

Government Operations committee  No, because at that time we basically said if there is an interest, then we go back to the client, we sit down with the client, and we say okay, based on the terms and conditions of the program, the government is of the view that it fits the terms and conditions of the program. At that time we would decide if they are submitting an application or we are submitting an application on their behalf.

Government Operations committee  No.

Government Operations committee  No, I cannot speculate. I said “if” there is an interest, then we go back and sit down to see if there is the potential to do business with them or not. If there is a decision to do business with them, then we submit the registration under the Lobbying Act. That would be the normal--

Government Operations committee  Yes--

Government Operations committee  It was not stated on the service page. If you look at the service page, it outlines clearly the services that were provided. The information is background information or biographical information, and it is not on the service page. On the service page we talk about knowledge of legislation.

Government Operations committee  Madam, programs change. Every program has its own “terms and conditions”. If you were aware of the process, you would know that there is a memorandum to Cabinet that sets policy, that this is then presented to Parliament, which allocates the necessary budget. It then goes to Treasury Board in the form of a submission.

Government Operations committee  They were not clients, Ms. Mendes. In order to have a client, you have to have a business relationship, a contract, an agreement, an understanding or a promise of some kind.

Government Operations committee  In our line of work, we try to gather as much information as possible to see which projects might be attractive from a business perspective. If the government has programs that would be a good fit with the project, we are then able to raise money privately and go forward with the project.

Government Operations committee  First of all, those relationships are confidential. Second of all, this matter is currently being debated and reviewed by the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying. We are interested in pursuing that process and providing the necessary information to the Director of Investigations.

Government Operations committee  Absolutely none.