Evidence of meeting #7 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was commissioner.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
Mr. Chair, what would be a deadline to contact the clerk about prospective witnesses for that hearing?
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
I don't really have any deadlines because it's not going to be just one day. If we have a number of people who want to approach the committee with their evidence, I'm sure--always being reasonable, but we can't have 15,000 people here. I really don't have a deadline, but the faster you get the names in, the faster the clerk can communicate with them and invite them to come here. So the sooner the better--let's put it that way--for all committee members.
Now, given that, this should take us through to and including Christmas break. Are there any other suggestions as to what we should do?
Mr. Martin.
4 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I was just thinking about the Monday meeting. The only thing that Jennifer Stoddart is going to really be able to tell us is what rights people have to anonymity in filing a complaint and the fact that she has started an investigation, at the request of a number of people, not the least of whom is the President of the Treasury Board.
The person who can answer the questions about what a person's rights are to having their name kept private is actually the Information Commissioner. I think we would benefit from hearing from that person regarding the incident that Mr. Kenney's motion and my motion relate to.
The Privacy Commissioner's role in this is really quite minor. The Information Commissioner has the obligation to enforce your rights under the Freedom of Information Act and Protection of Privacy Act. So I'm wondering if on Monday we shouldn't ask John Reid to be here as well.
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Mr. Martin, good point, except he won't be the Information Commissioner on Monday. I would suggest that we have Mr. Leadbeater here, his deputy assistant, who would be able to provide some information in that regard, at the same time as Ms. Stoddart. Between the two of them, they should be able to start us off, at least, in terms of where to look at who to call and possibly even the reporter concerned and that sort of thing. But at least those two people.... I don't think we can call Commissioner Reid, certainly in his capacity as commissioner, because he won't be commissioner.
4 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Imagine the stories he could tell, though, now that he's no longer commissioner. It might be fun to have him as a witness.
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
We could certainly invite him as a private citizen and former commissioner. If he wishes to regale us with anecdotes, that's fine.
Mr. Kenney.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
With respect to the particular case that was the source of the current controversy, we might want to consider calling in the access to information coordinator of Public Safety.
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
All right. Thank you.
Assuming that we can get two, at least, of those three, that should do us for two hours on Monday, I would think, and then we can carry on on Wednesday. I think we've pretty well covered the balance of 2006.
If there's no other discussion, I could adjourn the meeting, and we'll get to work at 3:30 on Monday with Mr. Martin in the chair.
D'accord. Merci beaucoup.
The meeting is adjourned.