National Defence committee  Once an ATIP request comes in, anyone who is mentioned on it has to be engaged. The writer of some of this information also has the privilege to say, “No, I don't want it released.”

National Defence committee  It all depends which documents you're looking for. If you're looking for access to personnel records, that's fairly easily done, but it would depend on what documents they were searching for.

National Defence committee  The answer is yes to all of the above. Again, not to be flippant, but if it's something that has to do with a member's personnel file, it should be in their file. If it is something to do with an accusation of inappropriate behaviour or sexual misconduct, whatever that may be, i

National Defence committee  I think it comes back to what Patrick has already said: We need to talk about accountability. If we keep rewarding poor behaviour, we're going to get poor behaviour. This is an accountability issue. I would say—and you're asking me in my jaded old age—that these types of things

National Defence committee  Absolutely.

National Defence committee  Absolutely.

National Defence committee  I'll liken that to when they set up the sexual misconduct response centre. We learned very quickly when it was rolled out that it reported through the chain of command to the chief of the defence staff and then, functionally, to the deputy minister. There was a lot of reluctance

National Defence committee  I think it opens up a venue where the concerns would be heard by a broader audience. It doesn't come down to an ombudsman going hat in hand looking for some money. It changes the ground, and it makes it different for everybody who would use the office.

National Defence committee  There's been incremental improvement. It would be unfair to say they haven't tried to do their best. I do believe, as Patrick has said, there has been some acceptance in the environment and people feel that, yes, they can come forward a bit more. I don't know if we've gotten dow

National Defence committee  Absolutely.

National Defence committee  Absolutely.

National Defence committee  In my opinion, it absolutely opens the door for more interference. If you say on paper who reports to the minister.... I had to go hat in hand to the deputy minister to get the money and authority to do staffing. If we put them in the same situation.... I don't know how or in wha

National Defence committee  I would have to ask, “As compared to what?”

National Defence committee  I can only speak from a personal perspective. I would absolutely say it's gotten worse. I went through a process at the end of my career that wasn't pretty. I referenced it in my opening comments, and I suggest you go back and look at the transcript. There were about eight or 10

National Defence committee  Without exception, every one of them was promoted. No one was ever challenged on the actions they took and the part they played in this scenario.