Evidence of meeting #62 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was results.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
When there are intense times during defence and when we're busy with extreme operations, yes, I have to prioritize my time for the issues at hand. At those times, if there are many events, my emails go to a lot lower priority.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
During those intense times, do you have staff members who review your emails for you—they can bring important items to your attention—or do they just go unchecked?
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Well, that's a great question. Normally I would, but at that time, I had very limited staff.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Today, if it's an intense time.... We're dealing with an evacuation situation in Sudan. I would think that international development is a very intense portfolio as well.
Do you have staff who check your personal email when you're not able to and who can bring important items to your attention?
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Yes, I have staff to check my work email, in my current portfolio.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
They bring important items to your attention, presumably.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Do you use an alternative email during those times for high priority items?
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
It's a bit of a challenge in that, during these intense times, people obviously need to get a hold of you, as minister.
Senator McPhedran appears to believe that you were aware of what was going on. You say you weren't.
Is there a reason she would believe that? Did you have conversations with her other than those on email?
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Mr. Chair, if you want to keep going down this path, allow me to explain.
During the evacuation from Kabul, the work that was required of me during that time, with limited staff.... Keep in mind that at times I'm in an area where I'm actually not even close to my phones, because most of the work that we do, most of the reporting and systems that we have to have in place, is classified.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
That wasn't my question, though, Minister.
Senator McPhedran is under the impression that you were aware of these fake documents that were distributed—
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
You say you were not aware. My question was: Why would she have that impression?
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
—being cc'd on emails all the time doesn't mean that I see all of them. And at the same time, if I happen to leave—
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Okay. How many staff do you have in your ministerial office right now?
Liberal
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I'm sorry, but how many staff do you have in your ministerial office right now?
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Mr. Chair, if you want me to answer the question, because at the same time you're allowing these dubious questions—
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I'd like you to answer the question I'm asking. How many staff do you have in your ministerial office right now?
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
Would the member allow the witness to answer the question.
Minister, the floor is yours.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Again, Chair, this is my time. My question is this: How many ministerial staff do you have right now?
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
I'm not going to allow you at the same time to put me into a position.... I need to provide the full context of where you're trying to lead this.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Chair, could you ask the minister to come to order, please? He has an obligation to answer the questions—