Evidence of meeting #104 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cbsa.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
Have you had a discussion with the ombudsman with regard to his report and his review?
1:55 p.m.
Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
No, I haven't.
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
You just mentioned that you wouldn't be able to, but has the RCMP contacted you?
1:55 p.m.
Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
No.
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
In all of the activities and reviews that you've put forward and that you've certainly seen and commented on.... How shall I put this? Have you seen misconduct in the work? Have you seen civil servants operating illegally? Has there been misconduct by people who are handling these files?
1:55 p.m.
Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
I can't conclude misconduct. I can tell you that in six different cases, the Office of the Information Commissioner has referred files and information that we found during an investigation, under the belief there was evidence of an intention to commit a crime. The Attorney General is responsible for continuing those investigations.
As far as I know, there is no finding or pursuit of these six cases.
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
You have not reported any misconduct to the House or to the Attorney General.
1:55 p.m.
Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
With respect to the CBSA, we haven't finalized our active cases. We're still investigating.
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
When do you anticipate finalizing your report on the CBSA?
1:55 p.m.
Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
Each file is independent, so it really depends. We try to do our investigation as quickly as possible. Sometimes it takes three months and sometimes it's a year. It really depends on the allegations and the complaints.
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
The CBSA is doing a review concurrently. It's assessing this very issue. Have you not had discussions with it on this matter?
1:55 p.m.
Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
I cannot discuss how we are doing our investigation and what kinds of conversations we are having. I can tell you generally that those types of conversations would happen with respect to these files.
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
You mean they would happen, but they are not happening at this point.
1:55 p.m.
Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
They may. I cannot divulge—
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
No. You're right.
In this committee, we tend to discuss many things. Many members of the committee are going out of their way to investigate the issues themselves.
We understand that there are a lot of investigations happening concurrently. Certain individuals are now becoming investigators themselves and are going away and talking directly with witnesses about various matters. Others are trying to do the investigation and maintain the integrity of this investigation. You have, just with your comments today, maintained integrity, and that's critical in these investigations, so as not to prejudice the outcome and preclude any activity that would then void our having a proper resolution.
We need a proper outcome. I appreciate the work you're doing with regard to that. Certainly, all of us on this committee want to understand the truth.
When we talk about information that's gone missing, you can't even determine whether there was any information in the first place. I guess that's part of your dilemma. Is that correct?
2 p.m.
Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
Yes.
2 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
There we go. We have a quick answer. That's your time, Mr. Sousa.
We'll now go to Mr. Barrett, please.
2 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
I'll give my first minute to Mr. Brock.
2 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Commissioner, following up on my last line of questioning to you, I want to confirm if you are in a position to conduct a special report to Parliament on ArriveCAN. If so, can you do that by May 1 of this year?
2 p.m.
Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
I cannot confirm that I will. I can only tell you that if I find something in an investigation that is worth bringing to Parliament and tabling as a special report, this is an authority that I have under the act. I can do that.
2 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Does the evidence you've heard so far not rise to that level?
2 p.m.
Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
I haven't been able to review the evidence that we have found during our investigation.
2 p.m.
Conservative
2 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Is it difficult to destroy government documents and records?