Government Operations Committee on June 19th, 2008

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

As the chief of staff to the Prime Minister, you obviously have access to very privileged and confidential information.

[Ian Brodie]

That's right.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

You have a lot of information at your disposal, so when you speak to anyone on any subject matter, you carry a great deal of weight because of the position you hold.

In light of that, do you understand the ramifications, the seriousness of this? Obviously, you're saying that you don't recollect the content of the discussion, but the report states that it's probable the discussion took place, and on that probability it caused this international incident to occur, whereby it impacted and interfered with the U.S. elections and caused this international incident. Do you understand the ramifications and the seriousness of that?

[Ian Brodie]

The Prime Minister has spoken about it on several occasions in the House of Commons, and I would stand by his comments.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Do you agree with Ambassador Wilkins, who said that he deemed this to be interference?

[Ian Brodie]

I'm not familiar with his comments.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

In a CBC radio interview, Ambassador Wilkins was asked what he thought of this particular incident and the way it unfolded. He deemed this incident and entire event, called NAFTA-gate, to be interference, in his interpretation. I was asking you if you agree or disagree with that.

[Ian Brodie]

I'd have to look at the context and the full report of his comments, which I have never seen.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

The report identifies PMO officials 1 and 2. Do you know who these officials are in the report?

[Ian Brodie]

I don't. I wasn't part of the investigation, so I don't know.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

But you did read the report.

[Ian Brodie]

Yes.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

So do you know who they might be? You do work in that office and you have access to these individuals.

[Ian Brodie]

As I said, because of my position vis-à-vis the investigation, I never went around the office to find out who was speaking to whom and I don't know the details. I haven't discussed the conduct of the investigation with any of the investigators. There's a reference to PMO official number 1 and number 2, but I don't know who they're speaking about.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Prior to the investigation, did you speak to PMO staff regarding this issue and how this might have happened?

[Ian Brodie]

When it became clear that the report from Chicago had been leaked to Associated Press in Washington, I gather, I did speak to a number of folks in the office about how the report arrived in our office. So the answer is yes.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

On your own initiative as chief of staff, understanding the seriousness of the issue, did you make an effort to try to find out the source of the leak before the investigation was conducted?

[Ian Brodie]

I would say I made inquiries, but the investigation was launched shortly after the finger was pointed back at the Prime Minister's Office in relation to the leak, so it quickly took over the course of action.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

What did those inquiries determine? What was the outcome of your questions to your staff members and officials?

[Ian Brodie]

I had a clear idea, I think, of how the report had arrived in the office--in the first instance, how it arrived on my desk, and then ceded the remainder of the investigation to the PCO folks who were involved.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

How am I on time?

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

You have two more minutes.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

As the seriousness of the situation unfolded, did you contact any U.S. political parties, anyone from the embassy that you know of, who spoke to the parties to give clarification? Did you have any contact with any of your counterparts in the United States to give clarification, from your perspective, of how the story was unfolding and your position on it?

[Ian Brodie]

No.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

You had no contact with any U.S. officials after the leak and prior to the investigation.