Public Safety committee  If I could, I'd like to take a moment to identify the events leading up. As I mentioned, in April 2003 the Canada Firearms Centre left the Department of Justice to join the Solicitor General's portfolio as a separate agency, and I was appointed the commissioner shortly after, wh

Public Safety committee  I am the former commissioner, for the last two weeks. I was appointed the CEO of the Firearms Centre in February 2003 and was not effectively involved in the 2002-03 decision. I was certainly involved in the 2003-04 accounting decision. That is the first set of books that would

Public Safety committee  I had just arrived at the very end of that fiscal year. The management of the contract and the finances were with the Department of Justice.

Public Safety committee  I would refer that to my colleague Mr. Sims.

Public Safety committee  Yes, Mr. Chair. I'll keep my opening remarks very brief, and would simply say that we're pleased to be here today to respond to questions. I would like to highlight that the government has accepted the recommendations of the Auditor General on all of the matters that have been

Public Accounts committee  Yes, Mr. Chair. We're talking in May of 2006 about an audit that was performed in 2005-06, looking back on transactions and decisions that were made in previous years. A conclusion has been reached by the Auditor General that has subsequently been accepted by the Treasury Board

Public Accounts committee  Supplementary estimates on the firearms program were, there's no question, a sensitive matter. But if that's what had been required, that's what we would have pursued. You raised a concern about a supplementary estimate. Believe me, there was also a very dominant concern about m

Public Accounts committee  As indicated, I brought the matter to her attention through correspondence.

Public Accounts committee  No.

Public Accounts committee  Being neither an accountant nor a lawyer expert in these areas, it certainly wasn't obvious to me. There were legitimate issues raised. The agreement in principle, to which people refer, in July of 2003 was between officials. Nothing was signed. It was an understanding. On the su

Public Accounts committee  At a point in time, I thought those were the only two. I should also point out that there was a question of urgency. We were very seized with the fact that the window was quickly closing to obtain supplementary estimates that year. I think we had a few days left to get a submissi

Public Accounts committee  No, not at all.

Public Accounts committee  Ultimately I sign off on the accounts with an attestation. I did so on the full understanding that what I was doing was due and proper and involved the consensus and support of the entire centre. I'll just repeat that at no point following the consideration of the legal opinion

Public Accounts committee  Not subsequent to the consideration of the legal opinion and the meeting that is referred to in the Auditor General's report.

Public Accounts committee  Yes, it did. I signed an attestation.