Finance committee  To the best of my knowledge, Chair, the answer to that is no. There were discussions involving Employment and Social Development, Finance, the ministers' offices of Finance and the Prime Minister's Office throughout various stages of the development of the proposal, but the pro

Finance committee  The answer, as far as I am aware, is no.

Finance committee  Primarily the responsibility for the contribution agreement would be the relevant department, but the broad lines of a contribution agreement might very well involve scrutiny by the Privy Council Office or the Department of Finance, or even frequently the Treasury Board Secretari

Finance committee  I wouldn't say, Chair, that there is a precise process or any established methodology. Every situation is unique. Every issue of conflict of interest or its appearance has its own unique context. In this case, the issue was not raised, as I indicated in response to Mr. Poilievre'

Finance committee  Six of those public service career years were spent as the deputy minister of Employment and Social Development in fact. I will not speak for officials in that department or in Minister Chagger's area of youth support, but my understanding is that a program will be stood up. It

Finance committee  Well, I certainly understand and appreciate the vote of confidence as one would expect from PSAC, and I generally agree entirely, of course, with the ability and the talent of the public service to deliver programs, and I think we have seen what the public service is able to stan

Finance committee  It was likely sometime in late April, but in general terms.

Finance committee  Thank you very much, Chair. With apologies to Mr. Fortin, perhaps it would be better if I just spoke in English. That will save confusion of [Inaudible—Editor] of the technology back and forth, if that would be agreeable.

Finance committee  In English or French?

Finance committee  Okay, I'm having a little difficulty navigating the screen here, Chair, so I think for that reason I will respond in English. I became aware of the involvement of WE Charity in a general way. I hope the committee will appreciate that a vast range of issues were going on at a ver

Finance committee  Yes, of course. From PCO, there was the deputy secretary who supports cabinet, Philip Jennings, and the deputy secretary who is responsible for our operations, including many of the relationships with other departments, Thao Pham. Both of those officials—at least one or the othe

Finance committee  As will be shown by the timeline that I can provide the committee, the Prime Minister was briefed prior to cabinet meetings and on at least one other occasion discussing the development of the program, the options, the design features, etc.

Finance committee  In the meetings to which I refer, Chair, I am speaking about the Prime Minister.

Finance committee  At that stage of the development, for example, when the recommendation was fully formed that we were recommending the WE Charity as the third party partner, yes, the Prime Minister was personally involved, of course.

Finance committee  As I said in response to Mr. Poilievre's question, Chair, of course there would be scrutiny of any organization and its ability to deliver a program if it was envisaged that it would be the vehicle for that task. Issues of the financial—