Thank you, Madam Chair.
This is the second time at this committee meeting today that one of the Conservative members has alleged that one or more of the Liberal members are engaged in a cover-up. I resent that allegation.
I don't know, Madam Chair, if there's an opportunity or a mechanism to ask a member to withdraw, but I would like the record to show that I resent that allegation. There is no evidence to support any kind of cover-up going on. To allege that other members of this committee are participating in a cover-up, I think, is reprehensible.
On the issue at hand, in terms of the motion, we're aligned in our desire to ensure the military is a safe place for people of all backgrounds, men and women alike. We want to eliminate sexual harassment and other inappropriate behaviour. We're all aligned on that. I don't, however, think that requesting documents that pose a risk of someone being identified helps to achieve that goal.
I'm concerned about the signal we're sending. I'm concerned about the practical elements of this. I'm concerned that someone could be identified through this process. I'm also concerned that it's sending a signal to men and women who may want to come forward—who have come forward—that their information could potentially be shared in a much broader setting by the defence committee.
What we've heard from witness after witness who has come to this committee, including Mr. Walbourne, is the importance—in instances like this, when allegations are brought forward—that there be an independent investigation outside of the chain of command.
Any information that's relevant to these investigations should be handled by independent professionals, and not by us at this committee. That this information could be presented to a committee in a public forum, to me, is not the way in which we make this a safe place for people to come forward. I'm concerned that if we pass such a motion, we're not doing right by those folks about whom the other members have said they want to ensure they feel safe in the military. I'm concerned about that.
Information like this belongs with an investigative body only, and if we risk or even create a perception that there's a risk that confidential, sensitive information could be shared—information that's been shared with an ombudsman or shared in a setting that is designed to be safe—that's a very dangerous thing. It sets a dangerous precedent, and it sends a signal to people who want to come forward that their information could be shared.