Evidence of meeting #44 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was confidential.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Michèle Demers  President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Chris Roberts  Research Officer, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

9:25 a.m.

President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Now, you would also be aware that any internal documents that are confidential are on a secure network drive and not easily accessible. Are you aware of that?

9:25 a.m.

Liberal

Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE

We learned that lesson, Ed, with Bernier.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Bezan

Order.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Are you aware of that?

9:25 a.m.

President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

Michèle Demers

Could you repeat that, please?

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Secured documents are on a secure network; they're not easily obtained from the computer.

9:25 a.m.

President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

Michèle Demers

Well, they're supposed to be in a secure network, but obviously this was not the case here.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Now, when you saw the thing marked “Confidential”, and you know what employees sign when they get the job—

9:25 a.m.

President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

—and they have the security clearance...and you yourself signed that. When you saw the confidential note on that document, why didn't you take it to the employer? Why did you read it?

9:25 a.m.

President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Well, you knew that confidential documents meant confidential, didn't you?

9:25 a.m.

President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

Michèle Demers

Yes, but it was not appropriately marked as per your own policies on the marking of confidential documents.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

The point I'm making is that you saw the fact that the word “Confidential” was on it, and you knew the implications of that, didn't you?

9:25 a.m.

President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

And knowing the implications of that, you chose to read it anyway?

9:25 a.m.

President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

Michèle Demers

I chose to read it and I chose to bring it back to the employer and discuss it. That's what I chose to do.

9:25 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

And you're suggesting that somehow it was left lying around on the table.

9:25 a.m.

President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

Michèle Demers

No, I'm not. I'm suggesting that it was left on the server of the agency's network system.

9:30 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

I thought your words—and I've got them marked here—were that they were left lying around on the table.

9:30 a.m.

President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

Michèle Demers

I never said that.

9:30 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

You never said that?

9:30 a.m.

President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

9:30 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Well, I'll check the blues.