Public Accounts committee  It didn't happen to me, as far as I know of, while I was there, but then again, I was there only briefly.

Public Accounts committee  I don't believe that a contract was signed with the winner before I received the letter in question. That occurred long afterwards.

Public Accounts committee  No. I'm referring to the time when I was the minister. Beyond that, it's not for me to say.

Public Accounts committee  Sir, with respect, I was in elected office for 30 years and was Minister of Public Works for four months. If one wants to call that vast experience at Public Works, well, fine, but I don't think it is. During the brief period I was there, I received a letter from a colleague asking me to look into something.

Public Accounts committee  It depends on the circumstances.

Public Accounts committee  I didn't receive the answer in reference to this circumstance. I'm unable to arrive at a conclusion on information I did not see.

Public Accounts committee  I am a privy councillor, sir.

Public Accounts committee  To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Chair, there were no discussions. I received an initial phone call from the minister expressing an interest in reviewing this thing. I've asked for a letter. There's something missing, by the way, in the English translation of the documentation that's before you.

Public Accounts committee  That's correct. By the way, I didn't recall that until I came here today. Mr. Drouin and I discussed this just here in the room, and I didn't remember the genesis of why I had received a letter from him. I was reminded---

Public Accounts committee  I'm sorry, but to answer the question directly, I was reminded that we had discussed it orally first and then I asked him for the letter. I didn't recall that I had asked for the letter.

Public Accounts committee  No. There wouldn't--

Public Accounts committee  There's a correction needed in what's just been said, Mr. Chairman. I believe the questioner referred to the lease that had just been signed. In fact, when I received the letter from Mr. Drouin, no lease had been signed, and by the time I left as Minister of Public Works, no lease had been signed either.

Public Accounts committee  In fact, Mr. Chairman, it's the opposite. The information that I have here is that I was asked in a letter that I received--a copy of which is in the file--if they could be authorized to sign this lease. So no lease had been signed.

Public Accounts committee  No minister asked me to change all this. I believe he asked me to review it, if possible. But in any case, the department hadn't answered those questions in order for me to respond favourably or negatively.

Public Accounts committee  Mr. Chairman, that is factually inaccurate. The ministry did not respond to me because---