National Defence committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. In the case of this appointment, I think I've been very candid about the information that I was aware of in the spring of 2015. As the ad hoc committee process unfolded, I don't recall being briefed at the time on other allegations regarding senior officials.

National Defence committee  I don't recall hearing Major Brennan's name until recent weeks when she did the interview. That said, I cannot recall with certainty the name that was conveyed to us with that rumour six years ago, so I'm not completely sure.

National Defence committee  That's correct. The rumour that was conveyed from the chief of staff of the veterans affairs minister in July 2015 was taken very seriously. That's why I conveyed the rumour directly to the NSA and requested an investigation. That's why we had internally agreed this appointment would be deferred or cancelled, if necessary, if those investigations yielded additional information, which they did not.

National Defence committee  I again can't speak, obviously, specifically to the pay structure and the decisions made. I do note that the timing of that bonus is certainly troubling, given the other facts that seem to have been known at the time.

National Defence committee  I'm simply referring to media reports that, in 2018, there were allegations that were brought forward that, for whatever reason, weren't investigated at the time.

National Defence committee  As I indicated in my statement, the ad hoc committee process was led by the national security adviser, a senior position in the Privy Council; the Clerk of the Privy Council; and the deputy minister of national defence. The committee included the Minister of National Defence and the deputy chief of staff in the Prime Minister's Office.

National Defence committee  I don't believe it would be, but I cannot offer a legal perspective to the committee on this question. I've been very candid that, when the political side of the government encounters allegations or even rumours, particularly pertaining to the head of the Canadian Armed Forces, those should be reported for an investigation.

National Defence committee  I'm not sure I caught the full question. Again, I don't believe [Inaudible—Editor] to pass information and request an investigation.

National Defence committee  Clearly, I'm not well-positioned to comment on the actions of the Privy Council post-2015. All I can say is that, in the case of the rumour that was relayed, at my request, for investigation in July 2015, this appointment would not have proceeded if that investigation had yielded any actual facts or any findings.

National Defence committee  Obviously, I can't speak specifically to what briefings the incoming Prime Minister would have received. In my experience those briefings are very thorough and very detailed. Obviously, I do believe if a prime minister or a minister or a senior political staff member made inquiries of the Privy Council, they would have the ability to find out information pertaining to the appointment that had been made.

National Defence committee  As I indicated in my statement, there was an ad hoc committee constituted for the purpose of making a recommendation on this deployment. That's the same process that had been used for General Natynczyk and General Lawson. That committee was composed of the Clerk of the Privy Council; the national security adviser, which is a senior position in the Privy Council; the deputy minister of national defence; and the Minister of National Defence.

National Defence committee  I have been very clear with the committee that, in March of 2015, there was one issue raised. That was the issue pertaining to the general's deployment at NATO and how he met his then fiancée. That was the issue raised. That was in March of 2015. The appointment was announced in April of 2015.

National Defence committee  I'm not sure I understand the member's question. The Prime Minister's Office didn't stop any investigation. The Prime Minister's Office is not an investigative body. Our officials briefed us that, with respect to the NATO deployment, that matter had been investigated by entities in the Canadian Armed Forces and at the department.

National Defence committee  Again, I'm not a lawyer, but I think my actions speak to my views on this matter. When someone at the political level of government, whether that is a senior staff member or minister, comes across serious allegations or, frankly, even a rumour, I believe they have a responsibility to convey that information to the appropriate officials and to insist on an investigation, and insist on knowing the results and acting on facts or further information, if any, as the result of that.

National Defence committee  I've been very clear. We were essentially aware of two different issues. One was the matter of the general's time when he was posted to NATO. As I mentioned, in March 2015 it was conveyed to us that he had been in a relationship with an officer who was subordinate, not in the chain of command.