Information & Ethics committee  No, but we had agreed, before accepting the money, to return it.

Information & Ethics committee  That's right.

Information & Ethics committee  I asked Mr. Rivard some questions, and he was my only contact on this. He told me that it was for local advertising. As I said, I trusted Mr. Rivard because I knew him.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  No.

Information & Ethics committee  We filed our election return. The Chief Electoral Officer told us that this money was not considered an admissible election expense. We consulted Elections Canada and Mr. Rivard. Mr. Rivard told us that the party lawyers would deal with the matter. As for us, we knowingly decided—

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Rivard specifically told me that we could do what we wanted, that is to say redo our election return without this money or let the party deal with it. He gave me the choice.

Information & Ethics committee  Michel Rivard.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  That is correct.

Information & Ethics committee  We discussed this matter with the official agents over the holidays. Mr. Rivard then called me to discuss it in early January.

Information & Ethics committee  He trained and advised the official agents throughout Quebec. I knew him in 2004, and he did his work very well. I had confidence in him.

Information & Ethics committee  He told me that the party had reached its limit. In our riding, it was clear that we were not going to reach our limit of approximately $75,000. Our plans were to spend approximately $10,000 on advertising. He assured me that the advertising would appear in the Sherbrooke area. The riding includes 60% of the city of Sherbrooke, and we are on the three sides.