Evidence of meeting #43 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was secretariat.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
former Executive Director, Public Appointments Commission Secretariat, Privy Council, As an Individual
I would not.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Garth Turner Conservative Halton, ON
That's interesting.
The secretariat, in general, do you believe in that concept? Do you think, in general, it was a very good development to have taken place?
4:25 p.m.
former Executive Director, Public Appointments Commission Secretariat, Privy Council, As an Individual
Madam Chair, I seek your guidance. I'm being asked for an opinion on an approach and a policy of the Government of Canada.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
As you know, as a public servant, you don't have to respond in any way for one party or the other. You have to retain your independence, of course, but it's up to you at this point.
4:25 p.m.
former Executive Director, Public Appointments Commission Secretariat, Privy Council, As an Individual
Maybe, Madam Chair, I can repeat a comment that I made to Mr. Rodriguez, and that is that when I was considering the request that I take on the role of being deputy head and executive director, my view was this was a noble objective.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Garth Turner Conservative Halton, ON
It was a noble objective, as opposed to a good idea. Okay, that's clear.
Were you surprised at the experience with Mr. Gwyn Morgan?
4:30 p.m.
former Executive Director, Public Appointments Commission Secretariat, Privy Council, As an Individual
Madam Chair, I've been a public servant for well over 25 years, and at my stage in life there are not many things that surprise me.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Garth Turner Conservative Halton, ON
Okay. Do you want to answer the question now? Do you want to answer the question now, sir?
4:30 p.m.
former Executive Director, Public Appointments Commission Secretariat, Privy Council, As an Individual
Yes, absolutely. Was I surprised?
4:30 p.m.
former Executive Director, Public Appointments Commission Secretariat, Privy Council, As an Individual
I read about this and heard about it, and my comment would be that the outcome was not the outcome that I think was intended by the Government of Canada. That's all that I can say.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Garth Turner Conservative Halton, ON
Were you surprised at the Prime Minister's action in withdrawing Mr. Morgan?
4:30 p.m.
former Executive Director, Public Appointments Commission Secretariat, Privy Council, As an Individual
The Prime Minister did what the Prime Minister did. He is the Prime Minister. And as a public servant, I recognize that he, as being primus inter pares, makes decisions, and I respect them.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Garth Turner Conservative Halton, ON
Having said that the secretariat was “a noble idea”, do you believe, then, that the withdrawing of Mr. Morgan and not having the Prime Minister offer anyone else was a lost opportunity?
4:30 p.m.
former Executive Director, Public Appointments Commission Secretariat, Privy Council, As an Individual
I would choose not to answer that question, Madam Chair.
4:30 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
former Executive Director, Public Appointments Commission Secretariat, Privy Council, As an Individual
Madam Chair....
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
Perhaps I could read to you some of the rules having to do with the appearance of public servants. If you'd like that, I could.
The role of the public servant has traditionally been viewed in relation to the implementation and administration of government policy, rather than the determination of what that policy should be. Consequently, public servants have been excused from commenting on the policy decisions made by the government. In addition, committees will ordinarily accept the reasons that a public servant gives for declining to answer a specific question or series of questions which involve the giving of a legal opinion, or which may be perceived as a conflict with the witness’ responsibility to the Minister, or which is outside of their own area of responsibility or which might affect business transactions.
As a public servant--he is a public servant still in another department--he is confined to answering in this way.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Garth Turner Conservative Halton, ON
Having said that the creation of the secretariat was “a noble idea”, do you think the objective of the commission would have been served further by the Prime Minister having re-offered another person for this position?
4:30 p.m.
former Executive Director, Public Appointments Commission Secretariat, Privy Council, As an Individual
I don't know the answer to that question. That is a question that surmises certain outcomes, and I am not in a position to speculate, Madam Chair.
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Good afternoon, Mr. Harrison.
If I understand correctly, the work of the Public Appointments Commission Secretariat, where you worked for about nine months, involved vetting all of the names in order to provide them to the people who were responsible for filling the positions. Is that an accurate description?
