At last, denial

Paul Martin denies sworn testimony that he was seen having lunch with Claude Boulay -- sort of:

"I have never had a lunch with Claude Boulay or anybody else to discuss the direction of contracts, directing contracts, intervening in contracts, that's just simply not my style of politics," he said, referring to the Montreal ad executive. Asked if he had lunch with Boulay to discuss something else, Martin told reporters Thursday: "I can't recall having had lunch with him since we formed the government." When pressed further, Martin elaborated: "I do not remember ever having any lunch with Mr. Boulay. But I did make his acquaintance at the beginning of the leadership in 1990, but it didn't last for long."

Even CP is unimpressed:

Prime Minister Paul Martin tried Thursday to dismiss fresh efforts to tie him to the sponsorship scandal, saying he doesn't recall ever having lunch with a key player in the affair. But his denials of dining with Claude Boulay, head of Liberal-friendly ad firm Groupe Everest, appeared less than convincing.