Public Accounts committee  At that period of time, I'm not sure whether anyone did or not, but certainly I wasn't aware of any controversy around that. So if people did, I didn't know about it.

Public Accounts committee  There are approximately 50.

Public Accounts committee  From my own perspective, that matter was in the hands of Deputy Commissioner George, and I understood that she was managing it. I had at that point no information that she wasn't. In hindsight, I believe that was the different case.

Public Accounts committee  I didn't discuss—

Public Accounts committee  I did not discuss the terms of reference. I understood that the minister was looking at ways of getting to the bottom of this, as I was, and I advised him that whatever was decided, we were anxious to cooperate.

Public Accounts committee  Usually in situations like that we prefer to do the criminal first, so that people can be interviewed, know what's at risk, and have their story told. The other way, people are a little awkward about giving up information, feeling that they may be held responsible in another way.

Public Accounts committee  I was in Ottawa at the same meeting ex-Deputy Commissioner Loeppky was at when the commissioner spoke with Jim Ewanovich about stepping down from his role because of the pension investigation. Up to that point in time, I was blissfully unaware that there had been this kind of co

Public Accounts committee  It was actually at the senior management team meeting. The senior management team are all the commanding officers and the deputies of the regions. That's where it came up.

Public Accounts committee  I believe that the vast majority—and I'm not going to be tempted to say “all”—of the people involved in this whole issue are anxious to get to the truth, whatever that is. I don't envision that there will be—

Public Accounts committee  It depends on whether or not they are legally allowed not to cooperate. At that point in time, we'll have to look at whether or not.... If they're legally allowed not to cooperate, it's difficult to talk about consequences.

Public Accounts committee  I think each situation, if and when it arises, would beg a decision and a determination on the facts and the reasons for that person not to cooperate. If a person was obstructing justice, then certainly that would be a proper response. If a person had a viable and legal reason no

Public Accounts committee  With your question framed that way, absolutely; they would be dealt with.

Public Accounts committee  Of course, it's all very new to us. Our ethics adviser is building a fulsome business plan as we speak. We've already designated the executive and the designated officer called for within the act, and the ethics adviser is now putting together a business plan to make sure we have

Public Accounts committee  Thank you.

Public Accounts committee  No, I don't.