Evidence of meeting #24 for National Defence in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was witnesses.
A video is available from Parliament.
1 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you very much.
I want to turn to Mr. Jean.
What you've said to me today raises a concern that sexual misconduct hasn't really been a part of the both national security advice and the general evaluation of GIC appointees.
Would you say that's true, that this has really been more limited to overt criminal acts and not really taken into account what I guess many would call the #MeToo movement?
1 p.m.
Deputy Minister Ret'd , As an Individual
No, I certainly would not want to be interpreted as having said that. What I said is there are two types of investigations. You have [Technical Difficulty—Editor] investigations when the allegation is about a transgression that is not of something that would be prosecuted as a crime. The national security adviser would not be responsible for that. This is exactly the type of situation where you would have to look at who is best suited to do that investigation.
If you think a crime has been committed, if it were not about someone in the Canadian Forces, you would probably be looking at providing.... Assuming you have the right information, you could provide it to the RCMP to investigate. In the case of a senior officer, you would have to look at dealing with the institutions within the Canadian Forces for that, the national investigation services.
I would not say it's not taken seriously. I think we've heard time and time again at this committee that there is a lot of fear among victims to come forward and provide information that would allow an investigation, whether it's something of an investigative nature or criminal nature.
1 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you for that, Mr. Jean.
Madam Chair, given that we are over the allotted time for the committee today and we have completed one round of questioning, I would hope that these witnesses might be available for further questions on Friday.
I move that the committee now adjourn.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon
I will ask the clerk to proceed with the vote.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)
My apologies to our witnesses. We really appreciate your willingness to spend an extra hour with us today. Unfortunately, we're not going to be able to take advantage of your offer.
The meeting is adjourned.