Canadian Heritage committee  I've known Senator Housakos for close to 15 years. He's a friend of mine.

Canadian Heritage committee  I have never been involved in anything of that nature, nor have I seen my friend involved in anything of that nature.

Canadian Heritage committee  I've already told you that I did not.

Canadian Heritage committee  Would you be interested in the process?

Canadian Heritage committee  For the record, he's my friend. What happened in August is that you got a call, you came in to interview, you're put in a room, you're given 20 minutes to read a series of questions--

Canadian Heritage committee  If you might let me finish, you're put in another room--

Canadian Heritage committee  No one.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thereafter you're called down.... I don't know who did the questioning. There were four or five people there. I may have taken notes and asked their names, but that document is taken back. You leave the room empty-handed, the same way you came in. You're interviewed. A few days later you get a call, a supplemental interview, to discuss--

Canadian Heritage committee  Who?

Canadian Heritage committee  Never heard of the person, sir.

Canadian Heritage committee  No.

Canadian Heritage committee  If I might just finish, I'll just give you the timeline.

Canadian Heritage committee  If we could just set the record straight, Leo Housakos is a friend of mine. We've broken bread together. We know each other well. Our families know each other. Dimitri Soudas is a gentleman I met maybe ten years ago in old Montreal. I think he was working either on the campaign for Mayor Tremblay or the party thereafter.

Canadian Heritage committee  Let me finish.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you, Mr. President. Shortly thereafter, he moved out west to take up a position with the Canadian Alliance or some party at the time. Over the last ten years, I've seen him maybe on two or three occasions in reception hall types of events in Montreal, with hundreds of other people there.