The witness made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:07 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 115(5), it was agreed that the committee continue to sit.

At 11:33 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:56 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Luc Berthold moved, — That the committee resume consideration of the motion moved by Michael Cooper on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, which read as follows:

That, given the international embarrassment created by the Liberal government by allowing a former soldier of a Nazi military unit in World War II to attend and be recognized during the Address of the President of Ukraine, delivered in the House of Commons Chamber on September 22, 2023, and that either proper vetting was not done or the individual’s military record was ignored, the committee begin a study, pursuant to Standing Orders 108(3)(a)(i) and (ii), concerning this matter, and for the purposes of this study,

(a) the committee invite the following to appear during the weeks of October 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2023:

(i) officials from the Office of Protocol of Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, including those who organized the President’s visit, on a panel by themselves, for one hour,

(ii) officials from the Federal Policing branch of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, including those with responsibility for internationally protected persons under the Protection of Diplomats Convention, on a panel by themselves, for one hour,

(iii) officials from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, on a panel by themselves, for one hour,

(iv) the Acting Director of the Parliamentary Protective Service, RCMP Superintendent Larry Brookson, by himself, for one hour,

(v) the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Commons, former RCMP Assistant Commissioner Pat McDonell, by himself, for one hour,

(vi) officials from the International and Interparliamentary Affairs branch of the House of Commons Administration, on a panel by themselves, for one hour,

(vii) officials from the Privy Council Office, on a panel by themselves, for one hour,

(viii) officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, on a panel by themselves, for one hour,

(ix) representatives of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canadian Polish Congress, on a panel by themselves, for one hour,

(x) Michael Levitt, former MP and President and CEO of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, and Richard Marceau, former MP and Vice President (External Affairs and General Counsel) of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, on a panel by themselves, for one hour, and

(xi) two one-hour panels of stakeholder representatives whose names shall be provided by the parties to the Clerk of the Committee within one week; and

(b) an order do issue for all e-mails, memoranda or other documents transmitted between the Speaker’s Office or the House of Commons Administration, on the one part, and any government department or agency, including the Prime Minister’s Office or any other minister’s office, on the other part, in relation to the Address of the President of Ukraine and the arrangements concerning it, provided that these shall be deposited with the Clerk of the Committee, in both official languages and without redaction, within ten days;

and of the amendment moved by Eric Duncan which read as follows:

That the motion be amended by adding, after the paragraphe (b), the following: “(c) That the Committee seek additional resources to meet for two extra hours each week until the above witness list is exhausted” and by replacing, in paragraph (a), the words “October 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2023:” with the words “October 16, 23, 30, 2023 and November 6, 2023:”.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Luc Berthold, Michael Cooper, Eric Duncan, Ted Falk — 4;

NAYS: Rachel Blaney, Terry Duguid, Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Mark Gerretsen, Stéphane Lauzon, Sherry Romanado, Ruby Sahota — 7.

Questioning of the witness resumed.

At 12:19 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:24 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

At 12:36 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:41 p.m., the sitting resumed.