Baird says Russian embassy security memo never sent to his office

OTTAWA – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says a memo written by one of his senior bureaucrats, warning of a lack of security at Canada’s embassy in Moscow, was never sent to his office.

That was Baird’s answer in the House of Commons today as he faced questions by the opposition NDP.

The Canadian Press has reported exclusively on the memo, which warned that Canada’s current embassy building in Moscow remains vulnerable to terrorist attack and being spied on.

Baird has directed his officials to call in the RCMP to investigate how the memo was leaked from his department.

New Democrat MPs unsuccessfully pressed Baird on what steps he has taken to ensure the safety of embassy staff in Moscow.