Public Accounts committee  No. I don't think, if Mr. Smith had died, that the deputy would have given me a day off. I didn't think the relationship—

Public Accounts committee  That's your statement, sir.

Public Accounts committee  I did not pay anyone, sir. The payment occurred under every one of these contracts through CAC standards at the time.

Public Accounts committee  It was standard practice at the agency that the client could invite the preferred bidder under a limited tender.

Public Accounts committee  In the riding association, I was suspended with pay in September 2004.

Public Accounts committee  No. I was suspended from work in September 2004, with pay. I joined Mr. Smith's riding association in December 2004.

Public Accounts committee  I was secretary.

Public Accounts committee  Correct.

Public Accounts committee  I never gave a contract in my life, sir. I am not a contracting officer. I had no signing authority. The agency is the one that gave out contracts. I did not give contracts.

Public Accounts committee  It's not an audit, for your information, it's a review. A big question that I had is how a report of this review was tabled to this committee without going through the proper channels, which is ATIP.

Public Accounts committee  Did I score—?

Public Accounts committee  I may have.

Public Accounts committee  It may be my handwriting. But a lot of the times, I was not the one who scored. I was just the messenger because I was the project manager. A lot of the work was done by other employees of CAC. My job at CAC was to—

Public Accounts committee  Second cousin.

Public Accounts committee  It is common practice in government for consultants or former employees, for example former members of the Canadian Forces or retired public servants, to go through companies. It is common practice.