The former federal executive criticized for his failure to disclose records of security breaches at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg retired just weeks before cabinet tabled the long-awaited documents on Feb. 28.
Iain Stewart became the first manager to be censured by Parliament since 1891. He retired as National Research Council president after more than six years in the post.
Mr. Stewart ended his career on Jan. 2. The controversial documents he is accused of withholding from MPs surfaced publicly on Feb. 28.
Mr. Stewart also led the COVID-19 vaccine rollout as president of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) between September 2020 and October 2021, a position that paid $321,000 annually.
Expressions of gratitude and congratulations for Mr. Stewart’s public service career came from various quarters. Sen. Peter Harder of Ontario praised Mr. Stewart on LinkedIn, and Michael Wernick, former chief Privy Council clerk, also commended Mr. Stewart’s “impactful career.”
A newly released 2020 security review report highlighted the significant risk they posed to Canada, emphasizing the potential for theft of materials attractive to terrorists and foreign entities.
Mr. Stewart faced censure in the House of Commons in 2021 for defying orders to release documents related to the security breach, marking the first such censure since 1891. His refusal to disclose reasons for the scientists’ dismissal during parliamentary committee hearings led to intense scrutiny and criticism from MPs.
Conservative MP Gérard Deltell underscored the seriousness of Mr. Stewart’s defiance at the time, highlighting the House of Commons’ role as the nation’s “grand inquest.”
“This is not a game,” said Mr. Deltell. “It is about the fundamental and ancient powers of the House of Commons to act as the grand inquest of the nation. This is being openly defied, dismissed and mocked by the Liberal government. It is, in a word, treating the House with contempt.”
Mr. Stewart’s reluctance to answer questions about the firings, citing concerns over “immunity,” prompted sharp rebukes from MPs Garnett Genuis and Stéphane Bergeron, who demanded transparency and accountability.
“Mr. Stewart, has there ever been a case where any government lab has fired scientists as a result of security breaches?” asked Tory MP Garnett Genuis.
“That’s a very difficult question to answer,” replied Mr. Stewart.
“Well, I’m glad you have a bloody senior office in this country where you’re supposed to account to parliamentarians and the Canadian people,” said Mr. Genuis.
“Why were they let go?” asked Bloc Québécois MP Stéphane Bergeron.
“I’m not really at liberty to talk about that, sir,” replied Mr. Stewart.
“What do you mean, you’re ‘not at liberty’ to talk about that?” asked Mr. Bergeron. “You’re in a parliamentary committee here.”
The Privy Council Office, alarmed by Mr. Stewart’s censure, reminded federal managers in a 2021 memo of their parliamentary duties, albeit acknowledging there are “limits.”
Health Minister Mark Holland, whose department oversees the Public Health Agency of Canada, has said neither he nor PHAC would have been “certain” of the extent to which China was willing to go to “influence science and obtain information.”
“I think that there was an inadequate understanding of the threat of foreign interference,” Mr. Holland told a Feb. 28 press conference.
“A lack of adherence to security protocols and procedures at the Winnipeg labs in 2019 is unacceptable.”
Commenting on the two fired scientists, the minister said they did not disclose information on the various “scientific enterprises” that they were involved in.
