Information & Ethics committee  I'm sorry, I didn't hear your question.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  I can only confirm what's on that document. I had no knowledge of this. It says “personal”, as you can see for yourself, so you know as much about this document as I do.

Information & Ethics committee  That's on the first arrangement. I know nothing about this arrangement, including anything related to taxation.

Information & Ethics committee  I never knew Jim Prentice. I still don't know him. I've never met the man, either then or now. My understanding, from reading correspondence and from what I knew of those ties, is that current Senator Angus was a key player in these arrangements. I had never heard the name Jim Prentice.

Information & Ethics committee  Well, most of you, if not all of you, know the little arrangement upstairs, the Prime Minister's corner office opposite the cabinet room. On one side of him you'll find the secretary—I think it is probably the same—and on the other side there's a little office where I as chief of staff used to work.

Information & Ethics committee  To the RCMP in 1995? Yes, I have a copy with me. I'm sure you have a copy, but if you don't, I'd be pleased to give you a copy of it.

Information & Ethics committee  Absolutely.

Information & Ethics committee  I have no evidence one way or another.

Information & Ethics committee  I don't know that it ever was.

Information & Ethics committee  He killed it, but it seemed to come back. It was like the phoenix. I'll give you two anecdotes. One is from Harry Swain, a deputy minister who might be known to some of the official opposition members who sat in government. In his first briefing of his minister, John Manley, in 1993, Mr.

Information & Ethics committee  I will answer the first part of your question, in the main. I think Mr. Johnston's statement that the RCMP had conducted the investigation—and this is well-tilled ground—is absolutely incorrect. I'd go one step further. This may not be common knowledge, but I have this from Bill Kaplan, who wrote the book A Secret Trial, and you can buy it at your bookstore.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, it is very difficult, and it was difficult from the beginning, Ms. Lavallée. The book was almost killed by McGill-Queen's University Press.

Information & Ethics committee  Almost killed. Excuse me.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes. The RCMP did not know about the cash when it shut down the investigation in 2003.