Public Safety Committee on Nov. 24th, 2014

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Are you familiar with the information that was requested, Mr. Guimont?

[François Guimont]

I think, Mr. Chairman, there was a bit of back and forth and it would be very good for all of us if the chair could clarify exactly what is expected by witnesses.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Then please go ahead and repeat the information that you requested.

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

I'm trying to remember exactly because I didn't keep detailed notes because I thought the witnesses were. It had to do with certainly clause 7 of the bill and the exception and whether that exception deals with things like bail and detention. That's my main concern. There are a couple of other points but that's my main one. So the ability to request the exemption does it deal with...? It says the presumption of innocence but does that include the other stages of the legal process including bail and detention?

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Is that available to our witnesses to provide that?

[François Guimont]

Yes, sir, we will provide the information as requested. I also want to do justice to Mr. Easter; he has a commitment from the minister and he'll get an answer to the questions he filed with the department as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Fine. Thank you very much.

Were those the two pieces of information you were looking for?

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

That was the piece I was looking for. The others were just questions.

My second point of order is that given the short timeframe we're on I'm looking for unanimous consent of the committee to authorize the chair to, should there be any witness slots that haven't been filled for Wednesday due to scheduling considerations, invite any of those who have approached the committee through the chair—which I know includes the Privacy Commissioner—to fill those slots. So could he fill those slots, starting with the Privacy Commissioner and any others who approached the chair, because we are on such a tight timeframe that people may not be able to get...?

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

The motion is in order, but it would require unanimous consent to do so.

Yes, Ms. James.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I have a quick point. We have a couple of other witnesses so we don't know whether those slots would be filled. I can't give you an answer at this point.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Yes, Mr. Easter, speaking on the same point.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Yes. Certainly on that, maybe the parliamentary secretary doesn't have the information available yet, but given the Privacy Commissioner's interest, the Privacy Commissioner could be put on standby should a spot be found to be vacant at the next hearing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Yes, Ms. James.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I would agree if a spot were available for the Privacy Commissioner to come as well, but again, I won't know until we are able to get hold of the other witnesses.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

The chair would only point out one thing. This does change the balance of the concentration of source of witnesses per party. As long as we have unanimous consent, the chair is comfortable with that.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Chair, that balance is such foolishness anyway. If they are good witnesses, bring them on.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Mr. Norlock.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

I'm not prepared to give my consent to something that I'm not aware of, the witness lists, etc. It's not appropriate for me to make a decision at this point because I haven't seen the complete witness list, so I'm not going to say yes or no to an unanimous motion until I have all the facts, and I do not have them.

I can assure Mr. Easter that any witness the government would bring forward would add value to this enterprise.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

It's a political theme, if I could say so.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Okay, seeing no consent at this point, that obviously is a no go now, but I might suggest there could be conversation between the parliamentary secretary and co-chairs, and we will see how this evolves. If something can be worked out, fine, and if not, we all understand the realities.

Mr. Norlock, the clerk has advised me that the witness lists have been distributed to all members.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Thank you very much. I'll look at them and be able to get back with regard to unanimous consent.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you very much.

To our witnesses, thank you very kindly for giving us your time and your expertise today.

The meeting is adjourned.