QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Special Report of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians
December 3, 2024
Senator Gold, it has been 176 days since Elizabeth May, the leader of the smallest group in the House of Commons — so small as to not be recognized as a party — has read the unredacted report of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. This report stated, among other things, that foreign actors cultivated relationships with Canadians — particularly members of Parliament and senators — with a view to having Canadians act in favour of the foreign actors and against Canada’s interests.
Colleagues, it has been zero days since Senator Saint-Germain, the leader of the Independent Senators Group — the largest group in the Senate — has read the unredacted report. When will the Prime Minister correct this oversight?
Thank you for that information, of which I was unaware.
Colleagues, as I have said on a number of occasions, I have transmitted regularly the sentiment and the will of many senators in this place to have access to that. I have gone further and reminded the government that this has become an issue of some concern within the Senate.
Regrettably, I do not yet have an answer from the government.
Senator Gold, our hope here is that all four leaders in the Senate would read the unredacted report and then can collectively advise the Senate that there is no problem and that no action is required or — worst case — that action is required and that action has been taken.
When will this cloud of uncertainty hanging over the Senate and some individual senators be lifted? When will the government let the leaders read the unredacted report?
Thank you for underlining the importance to you and others, as well as the reasons for which you are seeking access, but, again, the request has been transmitted on several occasions and reaffirmed regularly. I do not have an answer back from the government.
