Government Operations Committee on March 27th, 2007

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

The mandate we were given, Madam Chair, was to come up with recommendations that would make the process more efficient and more focused on principles. Our recommendations, I think, should move in that direction, because that was the mandate we'd been given.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Those are all the questions I have.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

We'll go to Mr. Turner for five minutes.

[Garth Turner, Conservative, Halton, ON]

Thank you, Dr. Harrison.

You said you met on occasion with the Prime Minister's director of appointments.

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

That's correct.

[Garth Turner, Conservative, Halton, ON]

Who is that individual?

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

It's a gentleman by the name of David Penner.

[Garth Turner, Conservative, Halton, ON]

How often did you meet with him?

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

I would say a total of four times over the eight-month period.

[Garth Turner, Conservative, Halton, ON]

Where did you meet? Was it at the PMO?

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

When I first introduced myself, as a matter of courtesy, I went to the Langevin Block, which includes the Prime Minister's office. The other meetings we had were in my office, which is directly across the street.

[Garth Turner, Conservative, Halton, ON]

Did you discuss individuals with the Prime Minister's director of appointments?

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

I have never discussed individuals with anybody.

[Garth Turner, Conservative, Halton, ON]

Did he bring any individual names up?

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

No.

[Garth Turner, Conservative, Halton, ON]

What was the nature of your conversation?

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

The nature of our conversation, Madam Chair, was that the Government of Canada had decided to put into place a secretariat, by order in council, which was then confirmed in Bill C-2, and it was in his interest to know the process we'd undertaken and the progress we were making. However, my written reports, as I've indicated in my opening statements, were all made on a regular basis to the Clerk of the Privy Council.

[Garth Turner, Conservative, Halton, ON]

Did the Prime Minister's director of appointments instruct you in any way? Did he give you guidance?

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

No.

[Garth Turner, Conservative, Halton, ON]

He just listened.

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

If I may, Madam Chair, first of all, I was not given instructions or guidance. Second, had it been given, I would not have taken it.

[Garth Turner, Conservative, Halton, ON]

I thought that's who you worked for. Was not the Prime Minister your minister? You just said that.

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

The Prime Minister was my minister because the secretariat was within his portfolio. But my reporting relationship to the Prime Minister was not through political staff. My reporting relationship was through the Clerk of the Privy Council.

[Garth Turner, Conservative, Halton, ON]

So just to be clear, then, you would not have taken instruction from the Prime Minister's director of appointments.

[Dr. Peter Harrison]

I did not take instruction from the Prime Minister's director of operations.