Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to appear before the committee today to discuss the documents tabled in Parliament on February 28 related to the termination of two scientists at the national microbiology laboratory in 2021. This is a very important discussion.

Canada-China Relations committee  We're not making any reductions to our security expenditures except for those related to the oversized nature of our pandemic response. Of course, our departmental estimates are coming down off that peak, but we in fact are making new investments in cybersecurity, IT restructuring and our security.

Canada-China Relations committee  I'd say that this is one of the reasons it's very important that any allegations or indices are tested through investigation by the appropriate security agencies and that evidence is collected through all of the means and tools at their disposal. In this instance, we had individuals who misrepresented themselves.

Canada-China Relations committee  This case is the only one that I'm aware of where our scientists were participating in this program, and I'd refer you to our security services for information. This was an undeclared collaboration—

Canada-China Relations committee  The security screening process begins with reliability status checks that are conducted by the security department of the agency. They are then referred to the RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service for secret clearances.

Canada-China Relations committee  It's granted by the security department of the Public Health Agency.

Canada-China Relations committee  Access for those students was through a research affiliate program with the University of Manitoba. Those students did not have clearances under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and therefore were not involved in level 3 or level 4 lab work, or in any of the restricted pathogens and toxins.

Canada-China Relations committee  Yes, they required a security clearance.

Canada-China Relations committee  In the first instance, this situation came to light in these cases as a result of a security awareness briefing provided by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service in regard to the threats against Canadian research and the potential vulnerability of Canadian scientists to pressure.

Canada-China Relations committee  I would say that for both of them, it's not really appropriate for us to comment. I think they both reflected that they resigned for personal reasons not associated with this issue.

Canada-China Relations committee  I'm not privy to their reasons, but that was what—

Canada-China Relations committee  I can respond to that question. In addition to enhanced physical security and access control measures, all policies at the national microbiology laboratory and the agency were revised. These are secret-level facilities requiring clearances under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act.

Health committee  The first concerns were raised in September or October of 2018.

Health committee  Yes, Mr. Chair, that was the first evidence.

Public Accounts committee  The governance of the ArriveCAN project was managed within the public service, and as the deputy head of the Public Health Agency, I take responsibility for its management.