Mr. Speaker, in his report on the defence department's handling of the Somalia affair, Canada's information commissioner, John Grace, found evidence of a widespread cover-up at DND. Documents were either destroyed, altered or disguised and unlawful orders were given to the rank and file.
Instead of getting to the bottom of this outrage, the defence minister thought it was more important to try and defend General Boyle by stressing that the general was misled by his subordinate.
My question is for the defence minister. Is it the position of the minister that as long as he or his senior officers are misled from below they are not accountable for what happens at the defence department?