Public Accounts Committee on May 26th, 2009

[Louis Ranger]

Yes, I would. It's not just lessons learned; it's also things we've done. Two very specific measures were taken. I mentioned one in my introductory remarks: the background checks on airport workers, which is something that was done following and as a result of the Air India accident. But also, there is the matching of passengers and baggage, which is something that was identified as a very specific issue and which we have had in place for many years as a direct result of and as a lesson learned from Air India.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

However, according to the Auditor General's remarks, the report says that “Transport Canada and the RCMP did not give full information to each other” and “Transport Canada may be granting clearance to high risk individuals for work in secure areas”. It also says, “As noted in our report, Transport Canada does not see its role as preventing criminal organizations from infiltrating airports.”

Now, that's just incredulous. Can you please tell me why there is no information sharing and what is going on? Why are the silos not breaking down? How can you talk about reliability of information and the transmission of information, which is what the Maher Arar inquiry was demanding, a reliability of information and seeing that it is shared properly? Plus, there is this non-coordination between the two departments.

[Louis Ranger]

We've come a long way. The Auditor General looked at the process we had in place. There was an initial MOU. There were difficulties on both sides, with us having difficulty in sharing private information and the RCMP not being able to access all the databases, but we've come a long way. As we mentioned, on April 8, we did sign an MOU that addresses both sets of issues.

For example, on the privacy side, we now seek very explicit consent from applicants in terms of being able to share with the RCMP detailed information on not only their own history, but on history regarding their spouse, and also consent regarding to what extent the RCMP can share that information with others. We now have the consent of the applicant, which has cleared the way and has come a long way to addressing the privacy issue.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

Thank you.

Madame Faille, sept minutes.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

My questions will in the main be on the issues that my colleague raised.

The Privy Council officials mentioned cyber threats. Can you tell us whether or not National Defence, Transport Canada or any other departments have also received cyberthreats?

Can you tell us about the telecommunications monitoring systems? Are there currently any investigations into these systems?

My colleague also raised the issue of intelligence reliability and intelligence management security. Can you also talk to us about that?

[Marie-Lucie Morin]

Thank you, Ms. Faille.

In my opening comments I did refer to cyber threats that are a danger to government installations all over the world as well as installations belonging to industry, the private sector and the non-governmental sector.

Of course we want to protect ourselves against these attacks. For security reasons I cannot refer to specific cases in which we could have been victims of these attacks. I can only tell you that we are very aware that these threats exist. We are currently developing policies to deal with these now and in the future. We know that we'll be living in a world where the "cyber" aspect will become more and more significant.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

I understand the cyberthreat issue, I'm aware of that. However, I would like to know if departments are taking any action in that regard. We're talking about national security and intelligence security. You say you went to Afghanistan, did National Defence...?

Earlier my colleague also raised the issue of airport security, and all areas that fall under national security. If this is public information, can you tell us whether or not National Defence has been the subject of cyberthreats over the past year?

[Marie-Lucie Morin]

I can't share that information with you and no, I have not had the opportunity to travel to Afghanistan as of yet, Ms. Faille.

Mr. Ranger, are you aware of what is happening with airports?

[Louis Ranger]

I can't provide any specific examples.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Who is currently responsible for telecommunications security for the federal government?

[Marie-Lucie Morin]

It's the CSE, the Communications Security Establishment, under the Department of National Defence.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Which company is responsible for that?

[Marie-Lucie Morin]

There's no company, it is a government agency.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

It's a government agency, but do they not use sub-contractors in the telecommunications sector?

[Marie-Lucie Morin]

Not to my knowledge, Madam.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Then it's not Bell, it's not Telus, no one is responsible for running your telecommunications system?

[Marie-Lucie Morin]

Yes, we use private companies for the purposes of telecommunication.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Fine. With respect to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, apparently there's a backlog of applications regarding criminal records. Is there currently a shortage of analysts for criminal records?

[D/Commr Tim Killam]

I'll ask Guylaine Dansereau to answer.

[Guylaine Dansereau, Director, Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police]

With respect to criminal record analysis, some positions have become vacant following the information technology renewal. We use a very sophisticated staffing process to fill our vacant positions. We have filled 70 permanent positions.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Seventy positions have been filled over the past year.

[Guylaine Dansereau]

Rather over the past few years. However, there are many people retiring, and some are leaving because of promotions. We always have an ongoing staffing process.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

What is your vacancy rate?

[Guylaine Dansereau]

The vacancy rate with respect to the...? I do not have the exact numbers.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Perhaps you could provide them to us.