Evidence of meeting #38 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 person.
A recording is available from Parliament.
C/Supt Derek R. Ogden
I believe there is a briefing note, but I'm not sure whether it was a briefing note to the commissioner or a briefing note that went over to the minister's office.
A/Commr Raf Souccar
I don't remember it being to the minister. When the matter hits the newspapers, of course, we try to brief up, not necessarily to the minister. They'll brief up to me, or—
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
We're short on time, Assistant Commissioner. On this particular one, do you know if Minister Day received a briefing?
A/Commr Raf Souccar
I don't believe so. I can undertake to verify and get back to you on that matter.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
And would you advise us whether that briefing would be public, made public to this committee?
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Okay.
You also are quoted in the media, Assistant Commissioner, indicating that there would be some type of internal probe within the RCMP. Is that correct, and has it been conducted?
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Just for the record here, we're both referring, in the last two exchanges, to the B.C. case.
A/Commr Raf Souccar
Yes, I understood that.
I'll first explain that I never ordered a review, which is what was reported in the media. In fact, they called it a probe. I did not. What I asked, when I read what I read in the paper, was that I wanted to be briefed on it.
In order to be briefed on it...the case is a fairly old one, and many of the investigators had retired and some had been transferred. So when I talked to the criminal operations officer, he said, “Let me look into it.” He looked into it, and he said he would have it reviewed. So it's a little different from ordering a review. I wanted him to review it in order to be able to brief me.
So that's what's going on, and in fact, knowing your interest in that case, we communicated with the clerk of this committee, I believe it was, asking whether or not you wanted to hear about that particular case. We were told no, it was general.
If you do, we have somebody available who's more than willing to come and speak to you about that particular investigation.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
That decision will have to wait, I think, until a bit later into the process, depending on what else has gone on.
Did you receive a briefing note of some type yourself?
A/Commr Raf Souccar
I received bits and pieces. The review, as far as I know, is not complete. Again, there was a difficulty with people having retired, having transferred, and so on, so they're trying to reconstruct the file—it's an old file—to be able to brief me on it.
If the committee decides, we'll have somebody here who is able to do that, and prior to that they will certainly brief me.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Perhaps Mr. Bird may have to answer this one.
In terms of that briefing on the specific case, it will obviously not breach section 11 of the act. The detailed information you give us will be limited so that it will not breach section 11.
Counsel, RCMP Legal Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
I expect that would have to be the case.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
And will that be reviewed by legal counsel before that person is available to us?
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Is there any other investigation of any kind, other than these committee hearings, going on with regard to the B.C. case or the biker case in Quebec of a few years?
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Mr. Day has asked for a briefing note. You've asked for a briefing of some type. This committee is conducting some hearings. Is anybody else looking into the B.C. case, of an overview or review type of nature?
A/Commr Raf Souccar
Not to my knowledge. It's an RCMP case, so the only people who would be asking for a briefing would be the RCMP.
A/Commr Raf Souccar
Good point, public complaints. But to my knowledge, there is no inquiry by the Public Complaints Commission.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
In terms of that particular case, the notoriety it generated, would you see any detail of that being reported in your annual report?
