Evidence of meeting #11 for Public Safety and National Security in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Now that you mention it, it's true; she became the minister after he had come back.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
Right.
Okay, who else would we like to invite, besides those two?
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
Well, SIRC. The head of SIRC is coming November 1, so we can work that into our....
That's already happening, but with respect to time allotment, I don't know. He's probably going to be presenting on another topic and there might be questions on other topics, so I would just ask that we make sure that we have sufficient time to pose questions.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
We also had somebody suggest the deputy minister from the past government. Who would like to confirm that? Shall we go ahead and invite them as well?
Mr. Comartin.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Yes, because if we're going to follow this chain, we're going to need the deputy minister. But I believe we have to bring Commissioner Zaccardelli back, as well.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
When would you like to do that, after you hear from the rest of the witnesses?
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
I think one of the problems we had on Thursday in terms of the shortage of time, the other frustration I had, was that I would have wanted other people there, who were there when these incidents were taking place. So I would like Mr. Easter and Commissioner Zaccardelli here at the same time, at the same session, and we'll give them an opportunity to go back and forth in response to questions on some of the specifics that I hope we'll raise at that point.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
Does anybody have any comments in regard to that? No? So it's okay with this committee?
Mr. Holland.
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON
The same day? Okay, I don't have a problem with that. At the same time? I think that's not going to be particularly useful or helpful. I think what you're going to get into is a lot of cross-talk and not a lot of opportunity, necessarily, to hear clear testimony. I don't have a problem with having them on the same day, if you wish, but having them at the same time doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
Is there any comment to that? Are you saying, the first hour, Mr. Easter, and the second hour, Mr. Zaccardelli?
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
We would have to go with Mr. Easter first. So, in effect, if he continues with this storyline, he can refute what the commissioner said. Then the commissioner can get back in and explain where he in fact did report to the government, if he maintains his position.
Conservative
Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON
I don't have any problem with that, but the other one I would like to hear from is the Department of Foreign Affairs, because they were involved in this. They don't have their own investigative people, so they had to rely on information from somebody.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
All right, so is everybody okay with having somebody from the Department of Foreign Affairs?
Conservative
Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON
I'm just thinking that you might want to have those people in before you have the commissioner back.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
This is becoming more complex all the time.
Okay, I think I've gone through the entire list of all the suggestions here, so can we just leave this with the clerk, then, to work out a schedule, beginning next week, I presume?
Oh, not next week, which is break week, but the following week.
Mr. Alghabra.
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Mr. Chair, I know we're trying to be as efficient as possible with witnesses. The reason I suggested the RCMP public complaints commission is because they just issued a report, their annual report, in July. Supposedly, this is the only mechanism that oversees the RCMP right now, and I am sure the commissioner would have a lot to say.
