Information & Ethics committee  That may have been their purpose, but it was completely unbeknownst to us.

Information & Ethics committee  That's absolutely right, Mr. Thibault.

Information & Ethics committee  I have no idea.

Information & Ethics committee  Not to my recollection. The only thing I can remember was that I happened to see in The Globe and Mail some time later that a columnist, Margaret Wente, referred to this letter of apology.

Information & Ethics committee  It's not much wonder, because there's been so much Sturm und Drang about this that I cannot, based on all my many tangled conversations, provide you with any definitive direction on this. All I know is that I think it was probably imprudent for my friend Mr. Schreiber to go off on this political route, trying to contact ministers and so on, instead of sticking strictly to the legal system.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Thibault, the only thing I can recall that would involve any international effort--and I want to tell you my recollection is hazy--is that it seems to me that Mr. Mulroney tried to contact Mr. Cohon, who was an American executive, I believe with McDonald's, pursuant to Mr. Schreiber's past adventures.

Information & Ethics committee  I certainly have a few more things I'd like to say, Mr. Szabo. I note that you have what I would suggest are some pretty good lawyers on your committee, and I would be astounded if they would permit a witness to come into a tribunal or before a judge who made the disparaging and demeaning comments you made about me before I even had a chance to appear, rolling your eyes and making a joke.

Information & Ethics committee  That would be very acceptable to me, and I thank you.

Information & Ethics committee  That's the end of my statement.

Information & Ethics committee  I can.

Information & Ethics committee  It makes no difference to me.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Szabo, members of the committee, it's been about 15 years since I returned to private life. During that time I've had no contact with Parliament, no appointments or contacts whatsoever. Of course, I did refresh myself on the privileges that a witness has when appearing before a committee like this one.