Mr. Speaker, a number of things come up with this particular issue.
It is important to realize this: It has been made very clear that, if the Leader of the Opposition or a leader of any party, other than the Prime Minister in his role, receives this security clearance to have access to the names of those who might be wittingly involved in foreign interference, they are gagged. It is effectively impossible for them to answer questions or to deal with it.
I will quote the chief of staff to the Prime Minister, who said, “The recipient is prevented from using the information in any manner, even were it in the case of briefing political parties on sensitive intelligence regarding [an] MP”. This “could put the leader or representative of a political party in a tough position because any decision affecting the MP might have to be made without giving them due process.”
It is important to realize all of these accusations. The Prime Minister grandstanded under oath at the Hogue commission and misled the committee in public. If he has all this information, why does he not release the names? If there are Conservatives on the list, we will deal with it. I think the Prime Minister knows by the names that his own party has some skeletons in the closet.
I support the Conservative leader not taking this, because he can then act and speak. Being gagged is another trick that the government does not want Canadians to be aware of.