Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you today before the committee on the traditional territory of the Algonquin people.
Before I begin, I would first like to express my sincere condolences to all those who lost loved ones, neighbours and community members, and those who were hurt in Nova Scotia on April 18-19, 2020.
My name is Alison Whelan. I am the chief strategic policy and external relations officer for the RCMP, based at the national headquarters in Ottawa. I have held this position since mid-July 2020. During the time period being examined by this committee, I was the executive director of national security and protective policing, which is situated within the federal policing business line at RCMP national headquarters. Given my position at the time period in question, I was neither aware of nor involved in the internal RCMP meeting on April 28, 2020, nor was I engaged in the request for or the sharing of information with government officials, or communications with the public during the spring of 2020. That said, of course, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you.