Public Safety Committee on Oct. 5th, 2026

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Minister, I have asked you two direct questions multiple times, and we haven't had a single answer from you. Did you prepare for today's meeting?

I have asked you multiple times about these things. We don't know whether China has to assent to the release of the MOU. Would you release the MOU? Will you release it?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

I've indicated in the past that we will be following previously set standards—

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Yes, but then you're asking people to go and research this.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

—and we will not be releasing that MOU.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

I'm asking you: Will you release it, yes or no?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

I've answered that question, Mr. Chair.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

No, you haven't answered it.

[Jacques Ramsay, Liberal, La Prairie—Atateken, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Mr. Ramsay, you have the floor.

[Jacques Ramsay, Liberal, La Prairie—Atateken, QC]

The witness has given the same answer three times. That is the answer he wishes to provide. I think the vice-chair should move forward in his line of questioning.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Quite right. Your point has been heard. Thank you, Mr. Ramsay.

Mr. Caputo, you have one minute remaining.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Thank you.

It's not appropriate for a member to try to rescue the minister, who is simply not prepared to answer questions here.

Minister, why is it that our intelligence didn't figure this out and Belgian intelligence did?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

Mr. Caputo, I have indicated that the matter is being investigated right now by Belgian police.

It's an ongoing investigation, and we are providing full co-operation to the Belgian officials to be able to get to the bottom of this—

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

You said that you would get to the bottom of this 70 days ago.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

Concurrently—

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Mr. Caputo, the minister hasn't finished yet.

Please do so quickly.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

Mr. Caputo, I understand that at some point you understand the nature of investigations and reviews. Seventy days is not a particularly long time.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Seventy days is not a particularly long time...?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

I'm pretty sure you can appreciate that, Mr. Caputo.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Just a second here, Minister. You said that you would get to the bottom of this—

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Okay. I'm sorry, MP Caputo. I have to....

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

You are the minister. As the minister, the buck stops with you. Seventy days ago, you said you'd get to the bottom of this, and you haven't gotten to the bottom of this. You told Canadians you would.

I have to question whether you have your hands on the wheel when you can't get to bottom of this, Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Mr. Caputo, I think your point was well understood. Unfortunately, the time has run out, which brings us to the next speaker. There will be other opportunities for opposition questions.

Ms. Acan, you have six minutes, please.

[Sima Acan, Liberal, Oakville West, ON]

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.

Minister, we heard you answering yes or no questions with one of those words very clearly. I hope that before making any videos, Mr. Caputo will go back to the recordings and he'll listen to your answer.

This study is focused on concerns regarding Canada's national security screening process. While Treasury Board sets the policy framework, departments and agencies are responsible for implementing security screening requirements. Could you explain how organizations such as the RCMP, CSIS, CSE and Public Safety Canada conduct security screening, establish risk thresholds and determine eligibility for security clearances?

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON]

Thank you, MP Acan, for that question. I want to just set the frame because I think there may be some misunderstanding or a lack of understanding about how our process works.

With respect to the matter in question that has brought us here, it is being investigated by Belgian police. We are fully co-operating and our agencies are fully co-operating with that process. Concurrently what we've done is that the Treasury Board is responsible for providing direction on security screening and they have already done so, as of January of this year. They continue to review the process to make sure that if there are any gaps and there are any improvements to be made, they can be made on a real-time basis.

Every agency or every department has been asked to review their processes and to ensure that if there are any gaps, again, they fulfill and make those changes. In this particular case, the authorization went from Global Affairs Canada, with the support, of course, of CSIS and the RCMP. Global Affairs Canada, as far as I'm aware, is appearing here next week.

The RCMP plays two roles. One would be to go through CPIC to highlight any criminal offences and, secondly, to undertake a more extensive review—