Evidence of meeting #28 for Public Safety and National Security in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was fadden.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
I already answered that, Mr. Chair.
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Fadden, this is not a question, but a comment that I want to make.
I agree with my colleague. We want you to step down even if you do not want to, because you are no longer the right man for the job. If, after our calls for your resignation, the Prime Minister decides not to fire you, that would make him your accomplice before the entire country, that would make him complicit in your remarks, which brought the entire Canadian political establishment into disrepute. If you do not step down today, Mr. Fadden, all it means is that the Prime Minister is protecting you.
I still wonder whether you applied for warrants to put these people under surveillance. If so, the Minister of Public Safety was aware of the situation.
Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
I wasn't sure there was a question there.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Don Davies
It's a comment. Thank you.
It's now me for five minutes.
Mr. Fadden, if I have your evidence correct, your explanation for making these comments at this function was that you lost track. Can you give Canadians assurance that you won't lose track and divulge sensitive information in the future? If so, how can you give us that assurance?
Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
First, Mr. Chairman, I want to repeat in English what I said in response to Mr. Laframboise. The information that I gave was not classified. It wasn't sensitive in the national security sense.
I repeat, I regret having given that level of detail, and I can assure you I won't be doing that again.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Don Davies
But surely you admit that something was improper or there'd be nothing to regret. What is it you regret exactly, sir, about what you divulged?
Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Giving the level of granularity that I did.
Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
I think I just said that, yes.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Don Davies
Yes.
You keep saying that you didn't violate national security, but I put to you, sir, that may be the case, but you did violate people's rights. There are cabinet ministers...there's a specific class of people in this country and municipal politicians in British Columbia who feel that a cloud of suspicion has been cast over them. Do you believe they have a right to know if there are any accusations against them specifically or not?
Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
As I was saying earlier, Mr. Chairman, once our report is completed, it will be given to government and the government will decide what to do with it.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Don Davies
Do you not agree, sir, that in a democracy--and I notice you've used that term in some of your comments--people have a right to face their accuser; that people in a democracy shouldn't have to defend themselves against a shadowy accusation that may or may not apply to them?
Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
I don't think anybody has to defend themselves against anything. You're taking a very small number of examples and you're suggesting that the entire political class in British Columbia should feel threatened by what I've said. I submit that's incorrect.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Don Davies
Mr. Fadden, I'll read to you what the Lower Mainland Local Government Association has written to you. It said:
We are however deeply dismayed by the method that you chose to announce your findings. Due to the broadness of your allegations, you have placed all of the 1600 locally elected officials in BC under a cloud of suspicion. That is hardly a supportive environment for local politicians who strive to discharge their duties faithfully and expediently.
I put to you, sir, that's exactly what the 1,600-plus locally elected officials in British Columbia feel, that you have smeared them all.
Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
I can't comment on what they've written to me.
The reason I gave the two examples was to try to illustrate the nature of the problem we have. If I had simply said there is foreign interference in Canada, you, ladies and gentlemen, would all be at your holidays right now. The point would not have been made.
I repeat again, I regret the level of granularity and it will not happen again.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Don Davies
Well, let me drill into what you call granularity. If you had said that one of the premiers of this country is under the influence of a foreign government, would you still hold your position that there is nothing inappropriate about that because you are not specifying precisely which one?
Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
I think it's a rather hypothetical question, Mr. Chairman.
Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
I made accusations. I made a suggestion that they were under some level of influence.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Don Davies
But what you've done, sir, is you haven't just been anonymous; you have specified a class of people. You have narrowed the accusations down. Do you not see that?