Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
At the outset, I would like to tell you that there may have been a little bit of confusion between the committee clerk and my office.
I don't have a written statement, but I would certainly be happy to begin by commenting or responding to the motion that is the subject of my appearance this morning, and then I'll try to respond to any questions.
As I understand it, you're interested in knowing more about the reinstatement of Deputy Commissioner George, particularly in relation to the timing of those events. Perhaps I could start by giving a brief chronology.
I appreciate that some of what I am about to say the committee is very familiar with, but I think it would be helpful, just to set the context, if I start with the suspension of Deputy Commissioner George by the previous Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Beverley Busson.
That occurred, as I said, on March 30. There were three allegations made respecting Deputy Commissioner George, which were included in the formal notice of suspension.
As part of the process for disciplinary hearings under the RCMP Act, an appropriate officer was appointed. That appropriate officer was Deputy Commissioner Bill Sweeney, who at the time was the deputy commissioner of the northwest region and the commanding officer of K Division--that is, Alberta.
Deputy Commissioner Sweeney, as you will know, has since transferred to Ottawa and is serving as a special adviser to me.
On June 21, after having reviewed the results of an investigation launched with respect to the three allegations that I have mentioned, a notice of disciplinary hearing initiating the formal discipline process was issued.
Between June and the fall, additional information was brought to the appropriate officer's attention. I understand that, among other things, Deputy Commissioner Sweeney had a number of discussions with parties in headquarters who had information. Those included the officer in charge of the investigation, Chief Superintendent Bob Paulson; the former Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Beverley Busson; and legal counsel.
Deputy Commissioner Sweeney subsequently informed me that he had determined that there were not grounds to proceed on the first and third allegations contained in the notice of suspension. The second allegation was related to Deputy Commissioner George's appearance before this committee. And I'm sure, Mr. Chairman, that you and your colleagues are familiar with the issues concerning parliamentary privilege and the rulings by both the House of Commons and the Federal Court in that regard.
On November 19, Deputy Commissioner Sweeney, as the appropriate officer, formally withdrew the allegations against Deputy Commissioner George. Those allegations were the basis for the suspension; therefore, on November 23 I signed a notice of revocation of the suspension. On November 28 I issued a statement to all the employees of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announcing that the deputy commissioner had been reinstated and that she would be returning to active duty on November 28.
I would be happy to entertain your questions, Mr. Chairman.