QUESTION PERIOD — Privy Council Office
Clerk of the Privy Council
December 13, 2023
Senator Gold, I have in my possession an email that was sent by John Hannaford, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, to federal employees. Mr. Hannaford reports directly to the Prime Minister, and the email concerns the events of October 7 in Israel, the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the subsequent rise in hate-motivated incidents in Canada. Senator Gold, this email is far from neutral or inclusive. Is it standard practice for your government to send to its employees such emails?
I’m not aware of the contents of the email, senator, so I certainly can’t comment on it. I don’t know what else to say. I simply don’t know what you’re referring to.
Senator Gold, sadly, in the world we live in, there are countless territorial and religious conflicts, civil wars or even instances of political polarization across the globe; however, we are fortunate to live in a democratic country, where we are free to practise the religion of our choice and voice our opinions.
Will it become standard practice for the Clerk of the Privy Council to direct employees to do or not do something in the context of those different conflicts?
Senator, I’m at a loss to respond. I don’t know what the content of the email is. You are asking me to comment on something both in ignorance and in the abstract. With the greatest of respect — which you know I have for you — I can’t answer that. But I would be happy to discuss the matter, if you could share this with me on another occasion. I’ll certainly do my best to understand your concerns and see what we can do together.
