Public Accounts committee  Well, if you want to know the full truth, as you say when using the word “truth,” look at the memo of July 19, 2001, from Suzanne Cloutier to Francine Langelier, with a copy to Lise Lefort, which says: See the update requested for the next meeting with JMB. CANADA ECONOMIC D

Public Accounts committee  He was my executive assistant.

Public Accounts committee  I believe it was not only for Montreal but for the whole province of Quebec.

Public Accounts committee  I was not informed of that request, as I told you, but from the time when I became political minister or minister responsible for Quebec, we received many information requests. We decided to look at that more closely, that is to obtain information from our officials. My office ha

Public Accounts committee  No.

Public Accounts committee  First of all, the first time I learned about that was by reading the documents and electronic e-mails that were exchanged. As I answered Mr. Crête before, my staff was regularly meeting with the officials from Public Works and Government Services, not just on this file but on dif

Public Accounts committee  Yes. When I received the convocation of the committee, I called Mr. Bard and asked him if he had any knowledge, any recollection, of this file, and he said he had no recollection.

Public Accounts committee  If you wish, I can give the phone number to the clerk. I don't think it's appropriate that everybody have it. After the meeting this afternoon or tomorrow, I'll be glad to give the phone number I have to the clerk.

Public Accounts committee  Rules are constantly being refined. I wouldn't want to mislead you. I think that some rules were in place before I came to the department. Improvements are made every year. I must say that department officials met with me on a number of occasions, under other circumstances, askin

Public Accounts committee  I know. I am trying to explain Ms. Cochrane's recommendation to Minister Goodale. I was not the minister. If she had made the same recommendation to me, would I have accepted? I do not know because, as I told you, this is all hypothetical, and you know better than me that, in pol

Public Accounts committee  If memory serves me well, no.

Public Accounts committee  I repeat that I was not there when the deputy minister presented the case analysis that established whether that was possible or not. Without knowing all the facts, I would say no, but I cannot give you a categorical answer because I do not know the gist of the analysis. Accordin

Public Accounts committee  Yes. I was in Denmark--Copenhagen, exactly. I had resigned as the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and a member of the House of Commons on January 15, 2002. In the middle of February I went to take my post as the Canadian ambassador to Denmark. I was there for two

Public Accounts committee  Far away from Ottawa, sir.

Public Accounts committee  The first time I found out about this is about a month, or a month and a half ago, when I read on the Internet in La Presse that the committee was contemplating calling me back. I asked, what for? I was no longer the minister. Anyway, here I am.