Information & Ethics committee  What I would say to that, Mr. Chair, is that we followed the evidence.

Information & Ethics committee  That's correct.

Information & Ethics committee  Again, Mr. Chair, we worked within the parameters that were given to us and the regs that were given to us, and we did—

Information & Ethics committee  We did apply to open it through an order in council to have additional information and it was refused.

Information & Ethics committee  Based on the information that was given to us, that's correct, Mr. Chair.

Information & Ethics committee  With regard to that, Mr. Chair, I'll leave it up to this table to determine what is appropriate.

Information & Ethics committee  As I said today, Mr. Chair, we did not once brief anyone on this file at the political level.

Information & Ethics committee  Do you mean within the context of an investigation?

Information & Ethics committee  In my experience, no. Mr. Pincince, do you want to add anything?

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chair, I would say that even with a public inquiry, I think cabinet confidence still applies. That's something you have to work out, but that's my understanding. Again, I think cabinet confidence was set in place for a reason. I'm far from being an expert on that. I think it has to be reviewed as to why it was put in place, along with the interpretation of cabinet confidence, as I discussed with the honourable Monsieur Villemure.

Information & Ethics committee  The example, Mr. Chair, is what we're living right now. There is no doubt that there is a reason for cabinet confidence, but the question is to what extent. We talked about full transparency when we're running investigations, but we also talked about the parameters within which we can operate.

Information & Ethics committee  I will be responding to the letter. It's a complaint that we received and that we're investigating. Apart from the position of the individual, it's a complaint that we received. We were already looking at the initial complaint that came in and will be investigating.

Information & Ethics committee  As I said, I have briefed the Prime Minister on maybe a couple of files since I've been in a senior position. The RCMP is not politically driven. We're independent. The fact is that the Leader of the Opposition can write a letter to ask for an investigation, and the fact that we're doing it demonstrates that.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chair, basically, we have to understand why cabinet confidence rules are in place. After that, we have to extrapolate and see how it could be applied or changed. As you know, that falls within your purview.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm not aware of the incident you're referring to. As I said, this is the deputy of specialized policing services, so I'm not aware of that call. I brief up. Sometimes there might be clarity if there's an article in the media that comes out with regard to one of our investigations.