Information & Ethics committee  But I'm also—

Information & Ethics committee  First of all, I didn't—

Information & Ethics committee  There are two answers to this. One, as a regular taxpayer, what goes on and how financing gets done in Ottawa...yes, it's weird. As a CFO, it's my responsibility to consider the long-term future of my riding association, and if those are the rules, I'm doing it. If somebody says, “You're absolutely not allowed to do that,” then we don't do it.

Information & Ethics committee  I'll echo what you just said. I think anybody who is supposed to attend should attend. One of the reasons for what we're doing is that we're trying to elect people to this House. That means we want it to work. If you don't like the rules, the committee can change the rules. If you want to tighten the rules, that's fine with us.

Information & Ethics committee  When I called the regional organizers, because I'm a member of the Conservative Party, when I walk through the door representing the Conservative Party, they said maybe you need some talking points.

Information & Ethics committee  But I didn't get any. I thought they would e-mail some to me. That's reasonable, probably something to do with some of the stuff that was in the press. I'm sure the gentlemen across the way from you, the kinds of comments they think...or what the party in general thinks about this committee, something of that nature.

Information & Ethics committee  First, I did not say you had to buy an election. As a matter of fact, if you spend too much money you'll probably lose. Hillary Clinton spent a lot of money and she lost. Just because you spend money doesn't mean you win. Last year I was part of the “no MMP” vote. We spent $15,000.

Information & Ethics committee  I did not sign the advertising contract. And for the $50,000, I don't consider it cheating, because that's part of the rules. The rules say you get a refund of 60% of your expenses. Take a look at what the 60% is. Part of it includes advertising. Advertising was never defined. The act was changed a little while ago under Mr.

Information & Ethics committee  Plus some of the other expenses.

Information & Ethics committee  Because advertising is part of what Elections Canada pays--of the 60%. If you take the variables and which ones pay 60%, advertising is the easiest one to use.

Information & Ethics committee  If my riding association had been over 10% of the vote, then I would claim it; the cheque would go to me.

Information & Ethics committee  That's correct, $30,000.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  That's the way the system works, yes.

Information & Ethics committee  One never knows how much advertising works, except that you have to do it. If you don't do a lot of it, then you're likely going to lose. On the byline it said the riding of Trinity—Spadina. There were others, but would it have been more effective if it had said Sam Goldstein, Trinity—Spadina?