Evidence of meeting #132 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rcmp.
A video is available from Parliament.
D/Commr Mark Flynn
Mr. Chair, I can answer that.
That decision was based on the fact that it had been revealed publicly and that there was public visibility in front of that location that demonstrated that the RCMP was there. At that point, it became a fool's errand to attempt to cover the fact that we were there and that we were executing a search warrant there.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Are you able to take us through the scene? Was Mr. Firth was present? Mr. Firth told us that the RCMP searched digital devices. Is that true? Are you able to confirm that's, in fact, what happened?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Brock asked you before, but I want to cover these questions again.
Has Mr. Kristian Firth been arrested?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Has he been charged?
D/Commr Mark Flynn
As I stated earlier, if Mr. Firth had been charged, there would be a public record of that.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Is there a public record of any charges being laid in relation to your investigation into the ArriveCAN matter?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
We're in possession of an access to information document. It's A-2023-00306. It's a memorandum for the Clerk of the Privy Council from that department, from the PCO, for the Prime Minister. The documents state that in January of 2023 the Prime Minister requested briefs related to ArriveCAN. Is the RCMP aware of those briefs?
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
The document, Commissioner, goes on to say that the Prime Minister raised the issue of ArriveCAN with the Clerk of the Privy Council. Is the RCMP aware of those conversations and their contents?
Commr Michael Duheme
No, Mr. Chair, I'm not aware of any conversations of the Prime Minister and the PCO, as well as the contents.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
If it's helpful to the RCMP, I'd be happy to furnish you with this ATIP. Would you like it?
Commr Michael Duheme
Again, it doesn't involve us. We want to make sure that any document that's brought into an investigation is done properly. You can keep the ATIP for now, sir.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Okay. Well, I'm sure that those diligent folks from your agency who are behind you there caught that ATIP number when I offered it and can access that file.
In the Auditor General's report, she noted that she referred information related to the cozy relationship of CBSA officials and certain vendors to the RCMP. Is that being investigated, Commissioner?
Commr Michael Duheme
Again, we have multiple investigations ongoing based on information that was collected. I'll leave my answer to that.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
It's important for Canadians to know if senior officials from the Liberal government are being investigated for criminality because there's been a reference made to you by an independent officer of Parliament.
You said that you're unable to tell us who the target is of any of your investigations. My question is this: If the evidence leads you there, will you commit to Canadians to interview any senior government official, including any minister, including the Prime Minister, if those conversations or interviews would be germane to your investigations?
Commr Michael Duheme
I can commit that our team will follow every single lead of investigation evidence and interview the people we must interview in our investigation.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
That would include anyone, including senior government officials or elected officials.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
On the topic of documents, Minh Doan, who is the chief technology officer, is alleged to have destroyed thousands of documents related to ArriveCAN. Are you aware of those allegations?
D/Commr Mark Flynn
Again, that would be a matter that could be part of an ongoing investigation, and we would not be speaking to that today.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Could you tell us, with my last question, what penalties the intentional destruction of documents that are the subject of a criminal investigation....? What are the potential penalties that someone would face if they were charged and convicted?