Evidence of meeting #101 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was investigation.
A video is available from Parliament.
11:50 a.m.
Executive Director, Professional Integrity, Canada Border Services Agency
Again, I'm not sure what you're referencing.
I did meet with the OAG—
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Chair, can we get some clarity, please?
My questions are very direct, and this witness has a hard time—
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Mr. Lafleur, could we ask that you just respond with a direct answer, please? If it's a yes or no, please provide a direct yes or no. Otherwise, please give a direct answer, so that we can move on.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Did you notify the Auditor General of four years' worth of deleted emails?
11:55 a.m.
Executive Director, Professional Integrity, Canada Border Services Agency
I notified the Auditor General that I had received allegations to that effect.
11:55 a.m.
Executive Director, Professional Integrity, Canada Border Services Agency
It was in December after I received the allegations.
11:55 a.m.
Executive Director, Professional Integrity, Canada Border Services Agency
Yes, it was in 2023.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
11:55 a.m.
Executive Director, Professional Integrity, Canada Border Services Agency
No.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Did you inform the RCMP of potentially four years' worth of highly confidential, relevant emails?
11:55 a.m.
Executive Director, Professional Integrity, Canada Border Services Agency
We are required to report potential criminality. I have no evidence of that at this time.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
—deliberately deleting emails. That is not criminality to you...?
February 5th, 2024 / 11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Lafleur, for joining us today.
On the statement of fact, which we've been talking about in the last few lines of questioning, is that confidential?
11:55 a.m.
Executive Director, Professional Integrity, Canada Border Services Agency
It is.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
The witness shared it with the member opposite. Is that some type of breach?
11:55 a.m.
Executive Director, Professional Integrity, Canada Border Services Agency
I'm not aware of any sharing that would have occurred.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Mr. Chair here confirmed that Mr. Brock received it from a witness.
Would that be a breach of any sort in this investigation? Is this, in a way, undermining the investigation that's ongoing? Are they supposed to be talking about this?
11:55 a.m.
Executive Director, Professional Integrity, Canada Border Services Agency
I would say that it depends who it came from.
Obviously, I would have concerns if that had come from a member of my investigation team.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Mr. Chair just confirmed that it came from a witness—that Mr. Brock directly received it from one of the witnesses. Which witness, we don't know.
11:55 a.m.
Executive Director, Professional Integrity, Canada Border Services Agency
If it was to somebody to whom it was provided, it may be considered their personal information. They are free to share it as they see fit.