I have no problem if the committee decides to wait, because I am not going to let this go. At least, we need to take some action commensurate with the importance we place on it, or change the policy. That's my thinking. Either honour it, uphold and enforce it, or change it and stop pretending. I'm quite willing to wait for the government report.
My difficult with it is—never mind that it's Conservative—the principle that you've got government inspecting government, investigating government, to decide if government did anything that government ought not do. It makes sense that if you want to have people accept that you didn't do anything—if that's the finding—it best comes from somebody who's at arm's length from the government, or an agency or entity. That's why I immediately said the RCMP. But I was open to other ideas. Whether or not, Chair—I look to you—we've got room enough here to send it to the Ethics Commissioner, is this someone who can grapple with it? Do we want to wait for the government report to determine whether or not we are satisfied that it's been a thorough investigation, and if not, what our options are?
I have to say to you, Chair, that if I'm the only one, I'll lose to the majority—and obviously the majority rules—and so be it. But I have to tell you, this is serious enough that we ought not let it die here. We can't make these statements about confidentiality, respecting Parliament, respecting procedures, respecting the Canadian people, and then when it's breached, do nothing because we think it will be too hard to find the culprit. That's not acceptable. We either find some means.... I have to tell you folks that even if we never find out who did this, we have to let it be known that if you do this, you're going to generate some heat and probably find yourself in a position of having to lie to cover your rear end or admit it. We will not treat it lightly and ignore it.
That message has to get out there. Mr. Chair, obviously I'll listen to the rest of the speakers, but I would hope that at the end of this meeting we have some pathway we feel will ensure that this doesn't fall off the table and get forgotten. Then it repeats itself the next time we have a leak. If we've had eight, there's reason to believe that if don't change something we're going to have nine. I'll be interested to hear what further comments come, Chair, but I am very much looking for whatever action this committee will to take to ensure that we are respecting our own policies and ensuring that accountability and ethics are something we will uphold among ourselves and the departments—not just individually as local members of Parliament.
Thank you, Chair.