OGGO Committee Report

CONCLUSION 1

That, as outlined in paragraphs 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 of this report, Mr. George Radwanski provided misleading testimony to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in June 2003, and caused to be provided misleading information during March and April of 2003, and should therefore be found in contempt of the House of Commons.

CONCLUSION 2

That, in addition to Mr. Radwanski, four employees of the OPC were, to varying degrees, less than forthcoming in their assistance to the Committee during its hearings in June. Subcommittee members have taken into account the mitigating circumstances described in this report, but remain disappointed in the conduct of these four OPC employees.

CONCLUSION 3

That the findings of the Auditor General, as reviewed in paragraphs 2.16, 2.17 and 2.18, provide evidence that Mr. Radwanski has committed contempts of the House additional to those arising directly from his conduct in relation to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.

CONCLUSION 4

Sanctions applied in response to the conduct described in this report, should it be found to constitute a contempt of Parliament, need to fully reflect the gravity of the offence.

RECOMMENDATION 1

That parliamentary committees consider formally placing witnesses under oath more often, when circumstances warrant.