Information & Ethics committee  As the committee knows, there are procedures for returning the funds, and that is part of any contribution agreement. That is standard and would have been followed in this case. The program did not proceed because WE themselves terminated it in the face of public controversy abo

Information & Ethics committee  I absolutely do, Chair. I always—and this applies to myself as well as anyone else—admit the possibility of speaking in error and, as I've indicated to any parliamentary committee, including this one, if there is a contradiction or if there is subsequent information that my testi

Information & Ethics committee  Well, it won't surprise you that I think our public service has performed extremely well because it is a very, very solid institution that fits within the context of our parliamentary institutions, which are the envy of much of the world. If I can say that the public service has

Information & Ethics committee  I would say that that question is more for the expertise of members of Parliament than for that of public servants. I hope and I believe that, in general, the public trusts our institutions, including the public service. We value evidence, independence and objectivity. Those are

Information & Ethics committee  It cannot be boiled down to a person. As typically occurs, it is an organic process among political staff in ministers' offices, policy staff and officials, in this case Finance and ESDC with PCO supporting and at one point becoming more involved in the analysis. That is typical

Information & Ethics committee  I think the record of testimony shows, and the documentary evidence we're providing will show, that there were various contributors to the design of the program.

Information & Ethics committee  They did interact, but—

Information & Ethics committee  I will speak to the program, Chair, because I don't know the exact amounts in the contribution agreement. It was in the order of $500 million that could be extended up to $900 million depending on take-up. That was the program cost. With respect to the actual administrative cost

Information & Ethics committee  I just think that there are certain matters of public policy that the Prime Minister as the leader of the government is of necessity going to be involved in. I think this is a conundrum that certainly we at PCO will reflect on, going forward.

Information & Ethics committee  I do not really understand what specifically was not done. In my opinion, with regard to the contribution agreement, the officials did their job and fulfilled their responsibilities to negotiate it. In terms of the Cabinet decisions, it was basically a question of public policy

Information & Ethics committee  We've provided the information on the other organizations, and I've been clear that the due diligence did not extend to the financial matters of the foundation.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm at the committee's disposal. I'm delighted to be here.

Information & Ethics committee  I think we did begin a little before the time. I do have other appointments, but I'll be happy to stay.

Information & Ethics committee  I have no intention of establishing any new doctrine of conflict of interest, of course, but in a situation where decisions are made and the decision-maker has an interest, a private interest, and that is not disclosed, that is an unacceptable situation because nobody can judge t

Information & Ethics committee  —with, over time, greater precision in order to ensure probity.