Industry committee  I don't know whether you are aware of this, Mr. Arthur, but I worked at Bell for 10 years. So I am quite familiar with this company.

Industry committee  Yes, I noted that.

Industry committee  I can tell you that we're trying to maintain an optimal distance between the CRTC and everyone affected by its decisions, equally.

Industry committee  Mr. Arthur, given your ill health, I'm pleased to see that your legendary spirit has not deserted you. With regard to this event, I was not on the board at that time. I have no idea what you're talking about.

Industry committee  Under the order in council the incumbent telephone company has the choice of applying in a territory as small as an exchange--an exchange is 587, 586, 585--or as large as a local interconnection region, which could be more than a million people. They have the choice under the order in council to take either a geographical territory or a technological territory, which is an exchange.

Industry committee  Okay.

Industry committee  I was referring to an order in council.

Industry committee  They are consistent with some parts and with a certain thematic orientation in the report.

Industry committee  We will need to study the order in council, but as far as we know, the guideline does not clash with the legislation.

Industry committee  We clearly believed, generally, that this was the best way to focus the various opinions around the table in the public interest, despite our radically different interpretations, sometimes, of that public interest.

Industry committee  First, the minister has remained undeniably consistent in all his interventions. The CRTC is therefore required to interpret and apply the legislation in light of the guideline and the order in council, if such exists. It will do so to the best of its abilities and the collective conscience of its 11 members.

Industry committee  The minister has adopted some significant parts of the legislation, but I cannot confirm that he has adopted it as a whole or that he has decided to fully implement all the recommendations. There are several dozen. No doubt, some of the minister's or the government's decisions are not consistent with the report.

Industry committee  This is a question you should ask my colleagues and members of the expert panel who will testify before you later.

Industry committee  It possesses the expertise, but it's role is not to judge the minister's decisions based on qualitative rules or provide an assessment such as the one you are asking us to make.

Industry committee  This speaks to the relationship between the two pieces of legislation, an issue that was raised in the report in a particular recommendation. I can't find the right words in French. It concerned the Telecommunications Competition Tribunal. The government recommended joining the two entities.