Evidence of meeting #38 for Public Safety and National Security in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was know.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:40 p.m.
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence, Privy Council Office
I will.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
And whether or not you kept those notes.... If you kept those notes, I would like you to advise the clerk--
4:40 p.m.
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence, Privy Council Office
I will.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
--and forward us a copy with any deletions that you might want to make because of national security.
The question I have is this. On the Foreign Affairs review that is being done right now, is the PCO being asked to assist? And if so, in what capacity and in what way?
4:40 p.m.
National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
Yes, we are assisting. The letter that went from the clerk to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs asked them to do it in close cooperation with the director of security operations, with PCO, which is Mr. Tardif.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
4:40 p.m.
National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
That's the director of security operations at Foreign Affairs, who is....
4:40 p.m.
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Security and Intelligence, Privy Council Office
Paul Meyer.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Have they enlisted the assistance of any forensic experts, including the RCMP?
4:40 p.m.
National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
They have hired a firm of investigators.
4:40 p.m.
National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
4:40 p.m.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Bloodworth, if the RCMP had told you that a government minister was romantically involved with a person having had important and sustained links with organized crime, would you have informed the Prime Minister of this?
4:40 p.m.
National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
I would inform the Prime Minister about any significant information about his ministry.
4:40 p.m.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Because you would have considered, in the circumstances, that there was a security breach risk, would you agree?
4:40 p.m.
National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
No, because I would have felt that the Prime Minister should know information that I know about his ministers and have that. In the end, it is the Prime Minister's decision as to who is in his cabinet, and he should have the information that I have about that.
4:40 p.m.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
If Ms. Couillard's past is such as it has been portrayed in the papers and if she did remain in regular contact with at least four members of organized crime, at the very highest level, do you believe that that would present the possibility of a security breach?
4:45 p.m.
National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
I'm not going to engage in speculation, Mr. Ménard.
4:45 p.m.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Because you believe that you do not have confirmation that Ms. Couillard had close relationships with members of organized crime?
4:45 p.m.
National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
No, because I have enough real issues in my job to deal with without dealing with hypotheticals and speculation.
4:45 p.m.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
You however consider that your role is to inform the Prime Minister and to give him advice in matters of security.
4:45 p.m.
National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
That's right.
