National Defence Committee on April 3rd, 2014

[John Forster]

No, we would have the technical assistance—

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

You would not say it because it's not true or you wouldn't say it because you're not going to tell us?

[John Forster]

No, sir, we would provide technical assistance to them. It could range from computer assistance to collection to other aspects they would need for their investigation, and it would be done lawfully under their authority and their warrant.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

You're acting under their warrants, but you could actually do the technical accessing of the private information.

[John Forster]

Only if they've gone to court and got a warrant—

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

No, we're already in court now, we've got a warrant, and they're coming to you for assistance.

[John Forster]

It's their operation, their authority, and we would provide some technical assistance.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Okay, but the nature of that technical assistance is what I'm interested in. What I'm asking you is whether you are able to use your technical capabilities, to actually intercept private communications on the existing networks of Bell Canada or Telus or Rogers or any of these networks. Is that the case?

[John Forster]

No, we would have to do that only through them, through their assistance, with the telecommunications companies. They would approach this.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

So you don't actually collect the information on their behalf through your systems?

[John Forster]

It depends what the particular case is.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

So you do?

[John Forster]

I said it depends what...you'd need to give me a specific, sir.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Well, we were talking about an intercept warrant, which requires the interception of private communications. You would actually do the work with your equipment, is that the case?

[John Forster]

No, it may be helping them with forensics on a piece of computer equipment that the RCMP has obtained under warrant. It could be a range of technical assistance.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Are you saying, no, you don't actually do the interceptions yourself under their warrants?

[John Forster]

Again, if they have the lawful authority, they would go to a telecommunications company and say, “We have a court order to access this information.” They may need our assistance with encryption. They may need our assistance with forensics on a computer drive. It could be a range of technical assistance.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

But they don't use your access to those services?

[John Forster]

They use our technical assistance; that's all I can tell you at this point.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Michaud.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Barely 30 seconds....

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I'll be very quick.

My question is for the Department of National Defence officials.

Coming back quickly to supplementary estimates (C), I saw that DND was transferring $25,000 to the National Research Council of Canada for the assessment, management and remediation of federal contaminated sites. Could you please provide to the committee, in writing, the details on how that money is being used?

In my riding, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, there are TCE-contaminated sites in Shannon caused by the Valcartier military base. Although federal money is earmarked for the cleanup, there is very little of it and it isn't accessible quickly enough.

So I'd like to have the details on how that $25,000 is being used and see whether it includes the cleanup in Shannon.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

A very brief answer, please.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Actually, since the witnesses won't have enough time to give me the details now, I'd just like the answer in writing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

So yes or no?