Evidence of meeting #18 for National Defence in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:45 p.m.
Chief, Communications Security Establishment
No, we would have the technical assistance—
12:45 p.m.
NDP
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?
12:45 p.m.
Chief, Communications Security Establishment
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.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
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.
12:45 p.m.
Chief, Communications Security Establishment
Only if they've gone to court and got a warrant—
12:45 p.m.
NDP
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.
12:45 p.m.
Chief, Communications Security Establishment
It's their operation, their authority, and we would provide some technical assistance.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
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?
12:45 p.m.
Chief, Communications Security Establishment
No, we would have to do that only through them, through their assistance, with the telecommunications companies. They would approach this.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
So you don't actually collect the information on their behalf through your systems?
12:45 p.m.
Chief, Communications Security Establishment
It depends what the particular case is.
12:45 p.m.
Chief, Communications Security Establishment
I said it depends what...you'd need to give me a specific, sir.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
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?
12:45 p.m.
Chief, Communications Security Establishment
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.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Are you saying, no, you don't actually do the interceptions yourself under their warrants?
12:45 p.m.
Chief, Communications Security Establishment
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.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
12:45 p.m.
Chief, Communications Security Establishment
They use our technical assistance; that's all I can tell you at this point.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
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.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
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.
