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News of the settlement was reported on the evening of July 3, 2017, by The Globe and Mail, which identified its source only as a “federal insider.” As of September 2017 — two months after the news story — the Privy Council Office was still searching for who leaked to the media, the report says.

The Post asked the Privy Council Office if the internal investigation ever uncovered the source of the leak, if the matter was ever referred to the RCMP, and if anyone was ever disciplined or terminated over the leak. Stephane Shank, manager of media relations for the Privy Council Office, sent a statement that did not answer any of the questions.

“Any disclosure of confidential information is a breach of the Public Service’s Values and Ethics Code,” it said. “As Public Servants, we swear an oath to serve and are entrusted to protect information of a confidential nature. This disclosure, while a breach, did not constitute a risk to the Canadian public. We do not comment on personnel matters.”

The Post asked the Prime Minister’s Office if it was ever consulted on whether to refer the Khadr leak investigation to the RCMP. “No,” said the one-word response from spokeswoman Eleanore Catenaro.

The RCMP did not immediately respond to a question on whether it investigated the leak, though it generally does not comment on investigations unless they result in charges.

A core issue in the Norman case is how the government responds to leaks — and in particular, whether Norman’s case received unusual treatment. Norman is criminally charged with breach of trust for allegedly leaking cabinet information about a $700-million navy supply ship contract. The Privy Council Office investigated the leaks in November 2015, in the early days of the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It did not find the culprit, but its internal report — disclosed to Norman’s lawyers, and now filed in court — recommended referring the investigation to the RCMP.