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.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Mr. Roy did not say that you contacted him about corruption. He said that you—
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former Director general of Human Resources, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, As an Individual
Mr. Chair, that clarification would have to be sought from Inspector Roy.
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former Director general of Human Resources, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, As an Individual
Thank you.
I receive the voice mail and there are serious allegations about continued corruption of senior management in the RCMP. In my place in the hierarchy, senior management means the commissioner and the senior executive committee. There's only one layer left. Where do I take that?
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former Director general of Human Resources, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, As an Individual
Mr. Chair, I need to complete this.
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Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
You can put my clock on hold; this is a separate intervention.
I'm not asking whether she relayed information about potential corruption to the investigator. That's not my question. I know the clock is running and I know that might be someone's objective, but my objective is to ask why she would talk about the comportment of a particular investigator to the investigative team and why someone in her role would find that kind of intervention appropriate. She is not answering this question; she is running the clock down.
I ask that she either answer it quickly, because she's had plenty of time to do so, or that I be allowed to move on to my next question. I'll allow her to take her pick.
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former Director general of Human Resources, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, As an Individual
Mr. Chair, I'll respond directly to that question.
The comportment was brought up by Inspector Roy, not me. The conversation evolved to that. It was Inspector Roy who suggested he was having problems with him. He wasn't speaking on behalf of the investigation. I did not initiate the part of that conversation about the comportment of Mike Frizzell.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Thank you very much.
For the record, it does say in Mr. Fitzpatrick's question, “Did Ms. Burton ever contact you during the investigation and suggest that Sergeant Frizzell was being a bit too aggressive and abusive...?” His intervention does indicate that you made the suggestion about Mr. Frizzell.
This is important, because it would indicate that you were making interventions that may have led to the eventual removal of Mr. Frizzell from this investigation.
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former Director general of Human Resources, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, As an Individual
Mr. Chair, I have never suggested—
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Conservative
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former Director general of Human Resources, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, As an Individual
—or requested that Mike Frizzell be removed from an investigation, nor do I presume to have the authority.
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Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Okay. That wasn't my question.
Mr. Roy, why was it that Mr. Frizzell was removed? We've heard a lot of different stories. What is the final version?
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Ottawa Police Service (Retired), As an Individual
Mr. Frizzell worked on the investigation right up until the end, which was June 17.
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Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Ms. George, you indicated that he was removed for health reasons, and then you told us he was removed for his behaviour. Which is it?
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Deputy Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
I didn't tell you he was removed for health reasons. I told you I—
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Deputy Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
They asked me about....
This is very important. Your words can bury somebody, so let's be very careful here, sir.
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Deputy Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
They asked me why I thought he was removed. I thought it had to do with health reasons. I read you the e-mails in my opening statement, okay? I read you the e-mails.
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Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Why was he removed? Tell me now. Why was he removed, according to your knowledge as of today?
5:05 p.m.
Deputy Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
I have two answers for you. One came from the document that—
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
