Government Operations Committee on Oct. 26th, 2023

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I do believe that we're asking for them to be translated and unredacted. It's just the contracts.

Are we good with that, colleagues?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We agree with the subamendment. We agree with the amendments, and we agree with the motion.

Thank you, colleagues.

Go ahead, Mr. Genuis, please.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

The other thing, in terms of documents, is that Mr. Barrett and others have requested documents from our witnesses. I want to make sure that there's agreement from the committee to publish the documents that our witnesses should wish to provide to us. That's not necessarily automatic. I think that, if they provide evidence that supports their testimony, it should be made available publicly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

If they have agreed to provide them to us, we do have a rule...or we've passed a motion in this committee that they're to be provided to us within three weeks if they've agreed to.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I'm not talking about the contracts. I'm talking about the documents that these witnesses wish to provide to us. I'm saying that we would make those documents publicly available.

We're having this important testimony. If they're providing evidentiary support for that testimony, we should be, as a matter of course, sharing that evidence along with their testimony.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

I would be very cautious about that, given the privacy issues and the issues of competitiveness. You're not just talking about Botler. You're now involving a number of other companies, and it would be totally inappropriate to go public on something that has sensitivity. You're talking about other people's businesses, and I don't think we have that right.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

We're talking about the documents that the witnesses provide us.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'll let Mr. Johns speak, and then I'll just comment quickly on past practice.

Go ahead, Mr. Johns.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Can we get the documents and then have a discussion with the committee? If we identify concerns, then we can have that conversation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

That was going to be my suggestion, as we've done that in the past during committee.

Are we fine with that, colleagues? We will receive the documents here, and we will decide whether we release anything.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

You have 20 seconds, Mr. Genuis.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I'd like you to share with us what documents we should be requesting that will provide further support to help us understand this issue.

[Amir Morv]

I believe that we should request all proof of valid security clearances of any individual who worked on these contracts and consent of individuals who are named on these task authorizations for half a billion. It's important that they consent and that they're aware that their names are, basically, used in these TAs. I think that's the bigger issue.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Is our agreement to request that information?

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

I believe that you're asking for documents pertaining to an actual investigation by the RCMP. That is being done now. There's another investigation under way that pertains not to ArriveCAN but to these other matters. I presume that's what you're—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Sousa, that's not a point of order.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

No, but that is—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I've ruled it's not a point of order, Mr. Sousa.

Could you please just quickly repeat what you're asking for? I just want to make sure that the clerk has received that information and that we quickly agree or not on that issue.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Would you just repeat that, Mr. Morv?

[Amir Morv]

The consent of any individual who is named on any task authorization should be provided and also verification by ISS from PSPC that any security clearances that link to those individual names are verified and validated by PSPC.

[Ritika Dutt]

Those are not under investigation.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

They are documents related to requests for consent verification.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Just to interrupt, we also should be clear who you're requesting them from.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

It would be PSPC that would have these documents.

[Amir Morv]

It would be PSPC for the security clearances. It would be PSPC for both, for security clearances and for consent.