Evidence of meeting #53 for Public Accounts in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was investigation.
A recording is available from Parliament.
6:35 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
Okay, and you worked with Ms. Burton at the time?
6:35 p.m.
Ottawa Police Service (Retired), As an Individual
Ms. Burton came into the picture, as I said, I didn't know what time, but I heard April of that year, April of 2001. She had an office on the same floor as I did, but I never worked directly with Ms. Burton.
6:40 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
Okay. I'm just curious because of the relationships you would have had, working together in that group. Did it ever cross your mind that when you were placed in a position of lead investigator in this new case, there was a little bit of inappropriateness to that?
6:40 p.m.
Ottawa Police Service (Retired), As an Individual
I need to mention first of all that when I was assigned by Chief Bevan to conduct the investigation I did not know who it involved. When I got the first reports, the key individuals were Mr. Ewanovich, who was the CHRO, and others. I certainly didn't see this as being a hindrance; in fact, I saw it as an asset, because I knew the inner workings of the RCMP, I knew where people were at. In reality, I had a close relationship with Mr. Fraser Macaulay. We worked together on several staffing actions. I thought it was an asset.
6:40 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
So when Mr. Frizzell was having conversations with you and Ms. Burton was contacting you personally about some issues she was having and when you were having conversations with Ms. George and you started to realize there was more to it, did you tell anybody? Did you inform somebody that at this point there might be some conflict of interest there, given the past relationships?
6:40 p.m.
Ottawa Police Service (Retired), As an Individual
I never saw a conflict of interest, no, because Ms. George and Ms. Burton were helpful to the investigation. They allowed us to obtain the documentation we needed, because this was the human resources unit. They were helpful.
At no time did I look at them as persons of interest in this investigation.
6:40 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
Mr. Frizzell, I believe you said that you got the information from Mr. Roy. Can you please comment on that?
6:40 p.m.
Staff Sergeant, Strategic and Operational Support, National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
In Mr. Roy's e-mail to Ms. George, he said: “The audit shows the money was taken. It should have been paid back.” The e-mail reply he got back said: “No, it wasn't paid back. We just took another $542,000.”
6:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
We're out of time; the bells are ringing.
I want to thank all the witnesses here.
I want to thank my colleagues.
The meeting is adjourned.