REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE

Tuesday , October 30, 2012

The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce has the honour to table its

SEVENTH REPORT

Pursuant to Appendix IV of the Rules of the Senate, your committee hereby reports on the unauthorized disclosure of confidential committee documents.

On September 11, 2012, at 6:18 p.m., the Argent/Canoe website operated by Groupe TVA/ Quebecor Media posted an article entitled “Le Canada, paradis du blanchiment de l’argent criminal (Canada, money-laundering haven)?” The article was written by Agence QMI journalist Gérard Samet.

On September 12, 2012, a slightly different version of the story written by the same author appeared in Le Journal de Montréal, a print outlet also owned by Quebecor. The article was entitled “Lutte contre le blanchiment inefficace (Anti-money laundering measures inefficient)”.

These articles described conclusions reached allegedly by the committee about the effectiveness of anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing measures and claimed to contain direct citations from the draft report.

On October 3, 2012, the chair of your committee made a statement in the Chamber informing the Senate of this alleged breach, and indicating that the committee would look into this serious matter and would report back to the Chamber in due course.

Your committee studied this matter thoroughly, engaged in debate and decided not to call any witnesses. Your committee reviewed the procedures that had been followed to ensure the security of the confidential report, namely, all copies were numbered and not released unless signed for by a senator or a member of their respective staff.

Your committee came to the conclusion that no further action is required except to raise the awareness of senators and staff as to the need for and the requirement of confidentiality. The leak of confidential material is indeed a serious matter. Your committee takes this opportunity to emphasize the importance of continuing to ensure that all Senators and staff are cautioned and reminded of the nature of confidential and in camera proceedings and documents and the importance of protecting them.

Respectfully submitted,

IRVING R. GERSTEIN

Chair