I will quickly speak to the process, which we have built over a period of time and for which we have restructured our organization around the needs that we have identified as we have processed cases.
We have an initial case. The first decision-making point is after disclosure or a complaint comes in. It goes to a trained case analyst who looks at the information—only the information provided by the discloser or the complainant—and analyzes that against the requirements of the law. There's always a lawyer assigned to every file from the beginning to the end. A decision then comes to me to either investigate it or not. If my decision is to investigate it, then it goes into the hands of an investigator who then goes out and does the external evidence gathering and identifying who the witnesses are. It goes into the department and we give notice to the deputy minister or the chief executive. Until that time, it's all internal and private. When someone comes to us, we don't broadcast immediately that we've had a disclosure, only if we're going to investigate. Then the rules of natural justice and procedural fairness kick into place and we have to give notice to the affected parties. We advise them of their ability to be accompanied by a representative of their choice, legal or otherwise.
At the end of the evidence gathering, a preliminary investigation report is provided to all of the parties in the case. The act specifically says that a hearing is not necessary, but everybody who could be adversely affected by a finding must be given a chance to respond to the case.
We do this on a preliminary basis. If there's any more information, or any different perspectives to be brought to bear, that is taken into account, again with the assistance of our legal services group. Then a final investigation report is provided to me with a recommendation as to whether there was a founded case of wrongdoing. If I agree, we then report it to Parliament. If I don't, the case is closed.
The focus on the procedural fairness and natural justice rights of all parties is something that we take extraordinarily seriously in addressing the issue that I believe you have raised with respect to whether there is a hearing and when people get a chance to go forward.