Public Accounts committee  It is a secret that I would not be allowed to disclose but I do not remember who it was anyway. However I am sure that the cabinet consulted one of its committees before it confirmed the decision.

Public Accounts committee  It has been 21 years, so I apologize for not remembering. From what I recall, the process was conducted by Canadian Heritage, then reviewed by the government and cabinet, and then confirmed by a committee. I may get mixed up between Canadian Heritage and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, because in the end, it was the latter department that transferred the funds to the foundation.

Public Accounts committee  I was not involved in the creation of those kinds of foundations, but when we were working on the annual budgets, there were always payments to such foundations.

Public Accounts committee  No.

Public Accounts committee  If I may interrupt, I remember another foundation, which was in the name of former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.

Public Accounts committee  No, not at all.

Public Accounts committee  Without going there, I must confirm to you that the Canadian Alliance, then the official opposition, supported Minister Allan Rock's proposal as well as the endowment of $125 million.

Public Accounts committee  I have the quote from Mr. John Reynolds, who was the interim leader of the Canadian Alliance at the time. He supported the involvement of Mr. Sacha Trudeau and the creation of this kind of recognition of the former prime minister.

Public Accounts committee  Quite so.

Public Accounts committee  It's not my place to tell parliamentarians how to their job. However, let me do that anyway. I think this a serious issue. I was not involved in the admission process to the fellowships or scholarships, although I was involved in the admission process of Action Canada at one point for a couple of years.

Public Accounts committee  I am not the expert and I do not have all the documents with me. If I understand well, the government made a commitment in March 2002 to transfer the funds. However, I believe the current agreement was signed in 2004, but I am not sure.

Public Accounts committee  With all due respect, sir, I think you should hold the government to account, first of all, but the contribution agreement that was signed between the government and the foundation should be the means by which they're held to account. It's a subtlety and a small point, but it's not an insignificant one.

Public Accounts committee  It was a wonderful experience. Frankly, I think most of the fellows were women. I just happened to have two young men as mentees, and they are going to set the world on fire. They have all this talent, which the foundation actually helps develop. The young chap I mentioned who's teaching at Oxford sent me a note recently where he said, “I would never have finished my doctorate if not for the financial support, professional network and social and intellectual camaraderie that I was lucky enough to receive as a scholar.”

Public Accounts committee  The way you asked the question, I'm tempted to joke, but this is not a joking matter, so I won't. No, there was no understanding or incentive or pressure for the scholars to be of any particular background. I met several of them who I thought were too far to one side or too far to the other, and, in fact, I should say, “and too far to the other”, but that was my personal view.

Public Accounts committee  I know they have to sign something, but I don't know what it was.