Evidence of meeting #17 for Public Accounts in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was contracts.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
Mr. Christopherson said to go with $500.
Conservative
John Williams Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
I'd like to move on to point three, Mr. Chairman, addressing the leak of elements of the Barbara George report.
First, it was embarrassing. I had complimented the committee a couple of days before on how we had hung together and kept it all totally out of the media, and then, boom, it's in the media. It was shocking, disappointing, and I hope the person who leaked it is hanging their head very low indeed. It's despicable that someone who was reported to be held in contempt was reported in the newspapers with absolutely no knowledge of what was in the report themselves and no capacity to respond. They didn't know what the accusations against them were.
That was a despicable event, Mr. Chairman, and I would hope that whoever did it would stand up and do a mea culpa. It's not like leaking a report on the government, where things happen and where the government can respond. This was a direct condemnation by this committee on a particular person, who found all the elements of the accusation and the condemnation in the newspapers before they were even advised of what was our opinion, and therefore I found it despicable.
But unless that person is prepared to publicly stand up and accept their responsibility, I don't think there's anything we can do. I remember we had the Auditor General do an investigation into one of the leaks of her report some time ago, and that ended up just being an embarrassment, because we couldn't find anybody.
Therefore, I'm prepared to leave it as is, although I wouldn't mind passing a motion of condemnation of whomever. I hope they recognize the seriousness of this. It was on an individual; it wasn't focused on a government department and on something the government had done wrong.
There could have been no glory in it, because I didn't find any name attached to this. Nobody saw their name in lights on this, because they refused to even put their name to it--which is further condemnation of the low attempt to try to get some gratification and see something in the media that they caused when the person on whom it was focused had no capacity whatsoever to respond. That, I found, was the most despicable part of it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Yes, and if I may make a comment, Mr. Williams, I agree with you. It was very unfortunate in this particular set of circumstances that that leak did occur. I agree with what you're saying, that it really was a violation of the committee's privileges.
My suspicion is that when you talk to the media—and I generally make a habit in a situation like this of not talking to them—they say they have this story or that story and that they want to confirm it. I think you're better off not talking to them at all in a situation like this, and that's unfortunate.
Mr. Fitzpatrick.
Conservative
Brian Fitzpatrick Conservative Prince Albert, SK
I just wanted to make a comment on that too. I think that whoever did this is in contempt of the committee and is bringing disrespect to every other member on this committee; we're all painted with the same brush because this person, for whatever reason, has no ethical standards. We're just on our high horses here with government officials talking about security clearances and risk assessment, and people are even talking about zero risk concepts and guarantees, and so on; but on this committee we have somebody for whom this stuff doesn't mean one iota. If they were working for the government in the security area, you couldn't trust them any farther than you could throw a piano.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
What you're saying, Mr. Fitzpatrick, is that members of this committee would not necessarily get DND security clearance.
Conservative
Conservative
John Williams Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
Loose lips sink ships, Mr. Chairman. We all know that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Is there anything further on the minutes?
We'll accept a motion for their adoption.
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
But I think we're hearing that some people are concerned about a couple of them.
Conservative
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
We will be here on Thursday. We have, I believe, two reports that are revisions of previous reports. So there are four reports. They've all been circulated or were sent out this morning, so you have them in your offices now.
We will see you on Thursday at 11.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
Sorry, Mr. Chair, but whom have we confirmed for next Thursday?
Conservative
Liberal