Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this complaint is frivolous and vexatious. I have not impugned any motive to any person, business, or employee of the government. What I have said is that there is potential, with raised amounts of sole-source contracts, for improper conduct. The government has been very vigilant about the need to respond to assessing risk and to meeting that risk with extra vigilance. I am pointing out that this needs to be the case.

I have the greatest respect for the civil service. They are professionals who are doing their jobs to the best of their abilities. The government does and has a responsibility to guard against the loss of public property or funds. That is why, for example, we have segregation of signing authorities in the spending of public funds to ensure oversight and prevent problems. Major funds are involved in sole-source purchasing, $41.6 million, according to the last available report from two-and-a-half years ago. Under the new guidelines, sums as high as $100,000 could be spent sole-source.

It was not my intention, and nor did I say, that any individual is guilty of this action. I pointed out, with significant sums now authorized for expenditure under the elevated sole-source spending, that we must ensure sole-source spending is monitored closely. With elevated sums available, there is elevated risk. I know the government is paying close attention to the risk in its 2016-17 business plans, and that is as it should be. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.