Thank you very much, Chair.
I would like to thank the witnesses for coming. I greatly appreciate this.
As you know, this is a very important issue. This issue, this unauthorized disclosure of sensitive diplomatic information, has been dubbed “NAFTAgate” in the media.
We feel this is a very serious breach of security, which has damaged our international reputation. There are a lot of unanswered questions with respect to the mandate. The primary purpose of your coming before committee is to address some of the concerns and unanswered questions we have.
Mr. Lynch, you indicated that your mandate was really to look into the verbal leaks and specifically the leaked memo.
My first question is with regard to the CTV reporters who effectively reported this information. Why were they not directly contacted themselves? Why did you choose to go through CTV? Why weren't the reporters contacted directly? Obviously their testimony would be crucial to the process, especially with respect to what government officials were saying.