CACN Committee Report

Supplementary Opinion of the Liberal Party of Canada

Complimentary to paragraph 3, we wish to add additional context to the process that resulted in the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee.

The Government of Canada is responsible for ensuring that sensitive material is protected and that the proper mechanisms are in place to safeguard any personal and security-related information. To disclose these documents without proper safeguards could put sensitive information at risk of being released publicly. Redactions of personal or security information should continue to be made independently by public servants and should not be interfered with politically.

On June 4, 2021, the Minister of Health referred the matter to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and PHAC sent the Committee the complete unredacted set of documents. As all members hold Top Secret security clearances and are able to receive classified briefings and materials, the proper safeguards were in place to study these documents.

The establishment and work of the Ad Hoc Committee, agreed to by all recognized political parties in the House of Commons, provided a compromise that recognized the essential role of the House of Commons to hold the government to account, while respecting the obligation of the government to keep certain information confidential that could be injurious to national security. We view this committee process as a success and a blueprint for how the study and disclosure of sensitive documents could occur in future.