Evidence of meeting #113 for Public Safety and National Security in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. MacGregor. Once again, I apologize for redacting you earlier.
We're going to start our second round. We will be terminating our second round after Mr. MacGregor. I have a request for the ministers to stay another few minutes beyond that. Then we can give the Conservatives and the Liberals additional two-and-a-half-minute slots.
Mr. Cooper, if you please, you have five minutes.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister LeBlanc, you said moments ago that the House of Commons must be safeguarded from foreign interference. I completely agree with you in that regard, yet the NSICOP report released this week unequivocally states that elected officials, including certain members of Parliament, are working wittingly—and I emphasize the word “wittingly”—with hostile foreign states, including frequently communicating with foreign missions, providing foreign diplomatic officials with privileged information and sending secrets to intelligence officers of foreign states. I would submit that, as long as the Prime Minister continues to cover up the names of these compromised MPs, a dark cloud will continue to hang over this place.
I'll put this to you again: What are the names of these compromised MPs? Who are they?
Liberal
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
I'll repeat the answer I gave to Mr. Cooper's colleague. The release of that sensitive, highly secret intelligence information is governed by law. I think Mr. Cooper knows very well that the latest—
Liberal
Liberal
Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON
Mr. Chair, perhaps you need to provide a reminder to committee members that questioners must give an equal amount of time for witnesses to answer.
Stop with your pretending to—
Conservative
Liberal
Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON
I know you're favourite thing to do on a Friday night is pretend to be chair.
Mr. Chair, please give a reminder of the decorum in this committee when dealing with witnesses.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
On the same point of order, Mr. Chair, there's no requirement whatsoever for equal time. It's the member's time. That's well established. Whether you read the book on a Friday night or a Saturday night, it will say the same thing on that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
We're getting into debate. Let us continue.
Mr. Cooper, I would appreciate it if you give the witnesses a chance to answer the questions you ask.
Go ahead, sir.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
With respect, Minister, I'm not asking you to release the intelligence. I'm not asking you to release sources and methods. I'm simply asking you to release the names. There is no legal impediment preventing you from doing that or preventing the Prime Minister from doing that.
Why is the Prime Minister continuing to cover up the names and shield the MPs who are compromised by hostile foreign states?
Liberal
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
Far from it. The Prime Minister and our government have strengthened Canada's ability to detect and counter foreign interference.
We're discussing today landmark legislation that the committee is working on that would strengthen the ability of our intelligence agencies and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to do the important work of holding those who violate Canadian law to account. Again, I have every confidence that—
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Minister, we already know that one former Liberal MP, the member for Don Valley North, received help from Beijing to secure the Liberal Party nomination. We know that the Prime Minister was briefed about that during the 2019 election, before the member was elected and while he was a Liberal candidate. The Prime Minister did nothing about it and covered it up for nearly four years, until he got caught when it was reported in The Globe and Mail.
The Prime Minister has a disturbing track record of putting the partisan interests of the Liberal Party ahead of transparency and protecting our democracy and national security. Isn't the real reason the Prime Minister won't release the names that some or all of the compromised MPs happen to be Liberals?
Liberal
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
I congratulate Mr. Cooper on the clip he probably just tried to get for social media. The simple answer is no.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
How many compromised MPs are there? Since you won't release the names, how many are there? Just give a number.
Liberal
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
Mr. Cooper knows full well that the information that underlies the conclusions of our intelligence agencies or the RCMP is highly protected, sensitive information that often comes with caveats from foreign partners.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Minister, I asked you simply for a number. How many compromised MPs are there?
Liberal
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
I get the theatrics. Mr. Cooper is very good at that. I think he should perhaps be given a gold star for theatrics. He knows—
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Minister, this is about as serious as it gets. We have members of Parliament working for hostile foreign states. You won't release the names. At the very least, Canadians deserve to know how many MPs are compromised. How many are there?
