Evidence of meeting #20 for Declaration of Emergency in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was funds.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
The question I put to you is whether you were aware that there was an armed terrorist cell organizing with a direct threat to the RCMP, concurrent with and infiltrating into the occupation of the convoy movement.
Executive Director, Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre
What I can say is that we were not aware of the details of the police operations.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Were you aware of the details of the organizing through open source...? I would imagine much of this organizing is happening online.
Given all of the national security inputs that you had, you either knew or you didn't. If you knew, you advised them. If you didn't, would you not consider it a failure of national security that we wouldn't know they were organizing in this way?
Executive Director, Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre
I believe that I mentioned....
Let me rephrase. National security is a very broad topic—
Executive Director, Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre
Then, I believe I answered the question, but—
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Okay. I'm going to put to you this last question. I have 30 seconds left.
The notes you have prepared today, would you be willing to submit those to the committee? In preparation for this, I'm assuming you brought notes that you would, if asked questions, refer to. For the consideration of this committee, I'm going to ask all witnesses if they would submit their notes to the committee for the purpose of our analysts and our future reporting.
National Security and Intelligence Advisor, Privy Council Office
Yes, my notes will be—
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Intelligence Assessment, Privy Council Office
There are documents here that I don't think I'm at liberty to share.
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Intelligence Assessment, Privy Council Office
Yes.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Are you aware that extends to the House of Commons in terms of being a grand inquisitor of the land and our having the complete ability to send for documents and otherwise? Are you aware of that?
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Intelligence Assessment, Privy Council Office
Yes.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Madam Chair, this is an ongoing issue we have at this committee. I'm not sure, given all of the knowledge we have here, whether they're being advised to obstruct this committee or co-operate with this committee.
We were struck with a mandate that swore us in and gave us the ability to go in camera. I would just put, through you to the witnesses, that we could go about this in a voluntary way, or we could start to deal with motions at this committee that would demand the documents, refusal of which would be, in my opinion, considered obstruction of this committee.
I just want to make sure the members who are present here tonight understand the seriousness of this committee and the powers and parliamentary privileges we have as MPs.
National Security and Intelligence Advisor, Privy Council Office
Madam Chair, my binder will absolutely be shared. We will share documents and work with the committee clerk on any redactions because of TS-level material. There should be no TS-level or secret-level material, but we will certainly share our information.
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
I have a point of order, Madam Chair. I'm just curious whether the clerks were able to send the cautionary notice we agreed to last week to these witnesses prior to their appearance today. That's all.
The Joint Chair Hon. Gwen Boniface
Thank you.
We'll now move to Senator Carignan for three minutes, to be followed by Senator Harder.
Senator, Quebec (Mille Isles), C
Thank you.
My questions will be for Ms. Thomas.
You're the security advisor to the Prime Minister. Where do you get your basic information, the information you need to advise him?