Information & Ethics committee  She is the manager of media relations in the department of HRSDC. As I stated earlier, I spoke to her boss, the ADM of communications, and I informed him of my rationale. He agreed. And I made a decision to provide accurate costs in a timely manner. That's what the reporter was a

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chair, if I may correct the member slightly, this was a media inquiry, not an access to information inquiry. They're two very different things, but--

Information & Ethics committee  I insisted on providing accurate details when they were available.

Information & Ethics committee  I didn't report it to them; I informed them. But I don't tell the minister about every conversation I've had with the Prime Minister's Office, no.

Information & Ethics committee  No.

Information & Ethics committee  I don't inform the minister of every conversation I've had with fellow political staff, no.

Information & Ethics committee  I don't inform the minister of every conversation I've had with other political staff.

Information & Ethics committee  In my world, the minister would have the ultimate decision-making—

Information & Ethics committee  To clarify, I think what I said was that when I inform the Prime Minister's Office on my decisions, there are instances where we have conversations surrounding particular cases, but I ultimately act on behalf of the minister and make the final decision on media inquiries.

Information & Ethics committee  I don't recall instances where I've made a decision and I have subsequently changed that decision. There are situations where I work with my colleagues to develop a comprehensive response.

Information & Ethics committee  It would be inappropriate to provide inaccurate figures, absolutely.

Information & Ethics committee  Since the minister is responsible--and obviously I support her in her roles as minister--my concern was absolutely to provide the accurate information in a timely manner.

Information & Ethics committee  It would be difficult for me to speculate on what the opposition members would do at committee, but since the minister is responsible, I can only infer that there could possibly be something of that nature, yes.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  Correct.