National Defence committee  If the member would let me finish, the ad hoc committee did report to us the matter of the general's relationship in Italy in March 2015.

National Defence committee  I'm attempting to answer the question, Madam Chair. The member doesn't seem to want to hear the answer.

National Defence committee  In March 2015, we were advised of the matter of how General Vance met his then fiancée. As I indicated, we were told that the matter had been closed. There was no reprimand against the general. That's what we knew in March 2015. The appointment was announced in April. I have briefed the committee on the rumour that was brought forward in April and I briefed the committee on the anonymous email.

National Defence committee  As I said in my statement, when Prime Minister Harper met with General Vance in March, he did raise the issue that was known at the time pertaining to the general's time at NATO, and I indicated in my statement what the general's response was to that. After the appointment was announced in April, as I indicated, some months later in early July additional information was shared with us by our officials in the case of the anonymous email that was received.

National Defence committee  With respect to the national security adviser, absolutely. That is one of the most senior positions in the public service of Canada. That is a position that interacts regularly with the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister's senior staff. It was fairly typical for me as chief of staff to the Prime Minister to speak to the national security adviser daily, and sometimes multiple times a day.

National Defence committee  The PCO is obviously the “most” department in the Government of Canada. The Privy Council Office is the department for the Prime Minister's Office. In an ad hoc committee process vetting a senior GIC appointment like the one we're speaking about, it is the PCO that is the conduit between the Prime Minister's Office and, in this case, the department and the Canadian Armed Forces.

National Defence committee  What I would say to the member is that I watched, as I think all members of the committee did, the interview that Major Brennan gave some weeks ago. It was obviously deeply disturbing. I think it's clear that she made extremely serious allegations. If they are true, and I have no reason to doubt her, that means the general was not truthful with the Prime Minister in their meeting in March of 2015.

National Defence committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the committee's work on this important matter. This is obviously a challenging and very difficult time for the Canadian Armed Forces, particularly for women in the Canadian Armed Forces. Madam Chair, I'll spend the next few minutes offering my recollection of the process used to replace the outgoing chief of the defence staff in 2015, in the hopes that this can constructively contribute to improving these processes in the future.

National Defence committee  Yes. Can you hear me clearly now?

National Defence committee  That's great. Thank you. Madam Chair, I'll spend the next few minutes offering my recollection of the process used to replace the outgoing chief of the defence staff in 2015, in the hopes this can constructively contribute to improving these processes in the future. In doing so, I must note for the committee that I am relying on recollections of this period six years ago and publicly available sources and dates.