Government Operations committee  No.

Government Operations committee  No, it wasn't a bidder. These were banks that wanted to advise the government. They'd been ranked by the deputy from one to ten, let's say. I don't know how many banks pitched, but let's say ten banks pitched. So they were ranked one to ten, and we decided that we were going to take two banks.

Government Operations committee  No, I did have confidence.

Government Operations committee  Because this was a very large assignment, a very significant assignment, one of the largest asset sales we've run in Canada, as you know, Mr. Regan, over the past 15 to 20 years.

Government Operations committee  We wanted two banks. We wanted two teams advising on the transaction. This was a complex matter, and as I said, this is very common in transactions of this nature and particularly given the amounts that are involved.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Regan, you know very well I wasn't involved in changing anything. The process provided that we could hire up to two banks--up to two banks. We hired two banks.

Government Operations committee  Absolutely not: this was discussed with the deputy, and we discussed it together, and we decided that we wanted two banks.

Government Operations committee  No.

Government Operations committee  You'd have to ask the department. You're really reaching deep into the department in terms of how they deal with contracts and how they award contracts.

Government Operations committee  How long have I known him? Ten years.

Government Operations committee  That's correct.

Government Operations committee  Since I've left politics, or...?

Government Operations committee  Since he left? No, I'm not aware of any.

Government Operations committee  They were discouraged from it, and if they did, they were supposed to report it, so I don't think they met with lobbyists. I didn't meet with lobbyists, and so I don't think they met with lobbyists, to be honest.

Government Operations committee  Well, if a museum of fine arts is planning renovations and they come by my office, are they lobbyists?