Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll move it closer.

Canada-China Relations committee  Yes, given the volume and the size of the agency, the day-to-day decision-making on security clearances resides with the chief security officer.

Canada-China Relations committee  As is normal, our interim president would be appointed with delegation during that period.

Canada-China Relations committee  The acting president during that period was the chief public health officer.

Canada-China Relations committee  The policy on delegation resides with the deputy head; however, the approval of individual clearances is delegated to the chief security officer of the agency.

Canada-China Relations committee  My understanding is that in August 2018, subsequent to a briefing that was given for general awareness by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the potential concerns regarding the vulnerability of lab employees to potential influence were flagged to the service, and fact-finding began.

Canada-China Relations committee  The scientists in question were Canadian citizens, long-standing employees of the lab, and respected in their field of scientific effort.

Canada-China Relations committee  Yes, the shipment to the Wuhan Institute was authorized, as per the standard procedures of the lab. The procedures around its transit were in full compliance with the relevant act and with biosafety regulations.

Canada-China Relations committee  Mr. Chair, we have a very rigorous procedure to audit and account for all the pathogens and toxins at the lab, and we are 100% certain that there were no unauthorized removals of high-consequence pathogens or toxins from the lab environment at any time.

Canada-China Relations committee  I'm in a position to confirm that they filed a complaint with the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency with regard to the suspension of their clearances.

Canada-China Relations committee  As far as I'm aware....

Canada-China Relations committee  My understanding is that the Minister of Health was briefed at different junctures in the investigation, so as to be informed of decisions that were being taken by the deputy head of the agency in line with the administrative investigations—as examples, in June 2019 on the results of the fact-finding investigation, in August 2020 on the suspension of the employees, and in January 2021 on their firing.

Canada-China Relations committee  My understanding is that they were briefed periodically. I don't have specific dates.

Canada-China Relations committee  Yes, we will look back at the records and—

Canada-China Relations committee  My understanding is that the initial briefings led to some identification by the security branch of the health portfolio and that the opening of the fact-finding investigation was subsequently authorized. I don't have the specific date that the president was briefed on this, but the security branch did launch, with the president of the agency, that fact-finding investigation in December 2018.