Information & Ethics Committee on Feb. 27th, 2024

Evidence of meeting #105 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was investigation.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Decision of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to Not Pursue a Criminal Investigation in Relation to the SNC-Lavalin Affair

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Michael Duheme Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Sergeant Frédéric Pincince Staff Sergeant, Sensitive and International Investigations, Federal Policing, Ontario Division, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Brassard

Thank you, Mr. Housefather.

Thank you to our witnesses today, Commissioner Duheme and Staff Sergeant Pincince.

I will tell you, Commissioner, that the clerk will be following up with the secretariat to make sure that we get the information requested in an appropriate timeline.

I want to thank you on behalf of not just the committee but also Canadians for being here today.

Mr. Villemure, according to the motion passed in October of last year, the committee decided to devote two meetings to the study, and we still have to hear from the following witnesses: Mr. Mario Dion, the former Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner; Mr. von Finckenstein, the acting Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner; and Mr. Michael Wernick, the former clerk of the Privy Council.

I propose that the committee hold the second meeting to hear from these witnesses later in April, because we will start to work on the committee’s report on Thursday.

1:15 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Thank you very much for the clarification, Mr. Chair.

I would like us to give priority to the former Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, because we heard today that there was some overlap between mandates, and we would like to shed light on it.

Of course both commissioners can help us, but one was present at the time, whereas the other succeeded him. If we can establish an order of priority, I would like to give priority to the former commissioner, Mr. Dion.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Brassard

I could grant priority to all witnesses invited to the committee. The problem is we only have one meeting on Thursday before we go back to our ridings for two weeks. There is another work week in March, so we could hear from witnesses at that time. The problem has to do with the calendar for the House and the committee.

1:15 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Thank you very much.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative John Brassard

Thank you.

I thank the witnesses who were with us today.

Thank you, everyone.

The meeting is adjourned.