Public Accounts committee  Absolutely. And you know, as a lawyer, there are lots of times you find your tasks challenging, particularly when preparing for court. This was quite different. This was quite extraordinary, leading up to the budget, 18 days straight of work.

Public Accounts committee  Yes, it was incredibly challenging, and I welcomed the challenge and undertook to work whatever hours it took to do the job and do the job well, and that meant many hours.

Public Accounts committee  When I received the call and the offer was extended, that was the offer that was extended. It was a contract for $24,900, a sum not to exceed $24,900, and that was what was offered at that time.

Public Accounts committee  Not to my recollection.

Public Accounts committee  In the course of my work I had many interactions with Mr. MacPhie. I think we all, as a team, worked incredibly hard. There were often 16-hour days. We worked six or seven days a week. In my opinion, the work Mr. MacPhie did was extraordinary.

Public Accounts committee  I was asked by the minister's office.

Public Accounts committee  Do you mean specifically?

Public Accounts committee  I was contacted by the budget director.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for the question. In my opinion, I have a very unique set of skills that I brought to the table. Included in that are my three degrees in business, law, and politics, and my previous history of public service. And yes, as I said from the outset, I am politically involv

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for the question. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, I did accept this at great sacrifice professionally. There were offers in lucrative private practice that I could have accepted at that time, and I was in the development of talks with them when the call came in.

Public Accounts committee  Yes. At present I practice at a downtown Toronto law firm. My hourly rate is $275 plus GST and disbursements. Those disbursements would include any expenses in relation to the work performed for the client. For instance, if there were an examination for discovery in Winnipeg and

Public Accounts committee  I recall at the time, being a lawyer, that I read the documentation before executing the contract, as I do with any piece of paper I sign, but at this point I do not recall seeing that in there. It may be there, but I can't recall.

Public Accounts committee  Mr. Chairman and honourable members of the committee, my name is Sara Beth Mintz. I'm here today voluntarily in response to this committee's invitation to appear concerning the study on the subject of untendered contracts in relation to the preparation of Budget 2007. In mid-Dec