Public Safety committee  That depends on the nature of the threat and the nature of the relationship.

Public Safety committee  If I might—

Public Safety committee  —I just want to direct your mind back to the preamble in your last question, where you talked about getting to know all the facts. It's important to have a full understanding of what all the facts are. With respect, I wasn't here when the previous witness spoke. I saw some of it on TV.

Public Safety committee  I'd like to add something, if I may. There again you suggested that they were secret documents. The actual classification level of those documents is not entirely clear at this point, and that needs to be understood. I just want to put that condition on the answer.

Public Safety committee  No, I cannot, but I'm suggesting to you that neither can you tell us what they are.

Public Safety committee  Right. Well, “secret” has a number of connotations in terms of the security clearance on a document, with respect, sir.

Public Safety committee  Might I add something to that? I think it's important to point out, without speaking to the specific incident case, that where the RCMP becomes aware, either through the complaints of civilians or members of the community, or anybody else for that matter, that there is a possible infraction, a criminal infraction, where there is reason to suspect that a criminal offence has taken place, we would investigate that and report our findings to a court, ultimately, for disposition.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, when we exchange the information, we put it in writing.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm happy to summarize my program's interests there, but there is a broad police community. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police have an interest in this, as do other organizations. I'm happy to try to canvass them all to help you.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, we can do that in two weeks.

Information & Ethics committee  It's reasonable to expect we'd apply a caveat to that information when we share it, that we do a qualitative assessment of the information when we share it, and that we get assurances from the receiving country on its intended use. But let me give you an example. I'm told that last year Interpol requested information from us 4,000 times.

Information & Ethics committee  Perhaps I am, because you keep asking it.

Information & Ethics committee  Indeed, it has happened that we have lost information here in Canada. Over the course of their work, some officers lost a piece of paper or a USB key. It has happened but not during an exchange with another country

Information & Ethics committee  Each case is different. If it is personal information on people who are not involved in criminal activity, yes.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.