My next question is for National Defence officials.
In the same report, the auditors indicated that National Defence was concerned that the lengthy security authorization process might delay the awarding of contracts, and therefore their completion. That is what some people told the Auditor General. You can read that in section 1.77. What is the policy at the Department of National Defence? Should security not come before everything else? National Defence officials say they fear it might delay the work, but it seems to me that every means available should be used to ensure that things are done in a very secure manner, even if that means project delays.
Earlier, Ms. Fraser indicated that Canadian and foreign workers had had access to plans as part of the NORAD project, among others. Are there other similar examples? Could it be that, in other cases, people were not asked to submit to security checks, and that they were able to gain knowledge of National Defence plans?