Mr. Cotler, you've asked me about seven questions in one question. I will try to answer as best I can.
You talk about the fact that I did not or the RCMP did not brief the ministers on these errors or these facts. As I've stated previously, and as the report of Mr. O'Connor states, I could not have advised them because I was not aware of that information. That information only came out after Justice O'Connor did his comprehensive auditing and review of this file. As soon as that happened, I came before this committee and I issued an apology, as I stated, in order that Mr. Arar would understand that we were sorry for whatever part we played in the ordeal that took place.
We did everything we could. I did inform myself. I was told repeatedly, and I passed this on to our ministers and to PCO, that Mr. Arar was a person of interest. He continued to be a person of interest throughout the investigation. We could not charge him criminally. We could not detain him if he came back to Canada. We could not prevent him from coming to Canada. We passed on all the information I knew. I could not pass on information that I did not have, and Justice O'Connor states that in his report.