Procedure and House Affairs committee  Madam Chair, I've worked with Ms. Block on an earlier occasion and have complete confidence in her and her colleagues to make any appropriate judgments on conflicts of interest. With respect to her contributions to the Liberal Party, she has made contributions to other parties, and she has served the country with great eminence.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Could you give me the paragraph reference on that page? Did you say page 25 or page 27?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Okay. It says, “CSIS sent an issues management note”. Is that the question?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It says, “CSIS conducted the briefing, but we understand from Mr. Chong's statements to the media and PROC that it did not include the detail with respect to his family.”

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Madam Chair, I'm attempting to get the context so that I can provide an appropriate answer. It's clear to us that there was a breakdown in communication in warnings going from CSIS to Mr. Blair, for reasons that I think have to be repaired, including who would receive information and with what kind of equipment, etc.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  —to ensure that there is a much better protocol—

Procedure and House Affairs committee  We did ask the Prime Minister about the nomination of Mr. Dong and the allegations that a previous member had been pushed out. He indicated that he was aware of that and that there were reasons that the previous member stepped out and Mr. Dong received the nomination.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I believe the Prime Minister was aware that there was some question about the actual nomination and the busing in of people, etc.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Madam Chair, again, I'm trying to keep the two parts of my brain functioning—the open part and the classified part. We speak about that issue on page 26: Han Dong Advised the PRC Consulate to Extend the Detention of the “Two Michaels” (Global News, March 22, 2023) There has been considerable media attention about an alleged transcript of this conversation.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Madam Chair, can we be a little more specific about the irregularities?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The irregularities had to do with nomination meetings and the busing in of people and students and so on, and some questions about whether Mr. Dong had been substituted for another candidate in the nominated process. I think they were that kind.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Exactly.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I don't think one should try to force people to come, either in the open or in an in camera session, to disclose anything if they don't wish to. They're Canadian citizens. They have a right not to do so. That would be fully respected.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Madam Chair, Ms. Block's credentials, as a thoughtful and impartial person of great integrity, are known throughout this land to any members of the bar who have been acquainted with her. In my view, we've been extremely fortunate to have her skills, her integrity, and her commitment to improving our way of dealing with foreign interference.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Madam Chair, we don't blame the media, nor do we blame public officials in our report. What we are calling for in this continuation of public hearings is to provide the ways of reforming our system so it functions in the interest of all Canadians and functions very well.