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.
9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Check the blues.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
You're saying it wasn't left around on the table, it was left on the network?
9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
That's where Luc Pomerleau found it, on the server.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
He sent it to me electronically.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
August 19th, 2008 / 9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
That's right.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
And you took that document that you saw the word “Confidential” on and distributed it electronically further.
9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
That's right.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
And you did that notwithstanding what you knew about the security protocols that exist in the agency.
9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
That's right.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
A clear breach, and you, as the president of the public servants, chose to breach that security notwithstanding.
9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
No, I chose to discuss it with the employer, because of the implications that were evident.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
The point is that you circulated that electronically to other members without authorization.
9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Authorization from whom?
9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
I went back to the employer with the document.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Would it not be a dangerous practice to have people circulate confidential material and write about it in public while they're in the employ of the public service?
9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Who did that?
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
I'm asking you the question whether, as a matter of protocol, that is something that would be a dangerous practice.
9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
I couldn't answer that question.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
You would agree with me that there are reasons for security clearances, would you not?
9:30 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
I would agree with you, absolutely.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Because there are matters of security at very initial discussion stages that must be respected by everyone, including you—