Information & Ethics committee  Jocelyne is better placed to give more specifics, but no, there are two areas of growth. One is in the sheer number of files and the applications, the requests under the act, and the other is in the complexity and the range of the requests being made, particularly under the Acces

Information & Ethics committee  It's both. For example, when we take an extension on a file, there's a standard phrase in the letter that goes to the client: that it's disruptive to the operations of the department. For example, we have a task force in Afghanistan. I consider I work long hours, but I don't wo

Information & Ethics committee  Extending the time is not within our purview, because that's in the act and the regulations. We have worked very assiduously in the department to try to improve what was a pretty appalling performance. We're sharing best practices with other colleagues. More people would help,

Information & Ethics committee  I report to the deputy minister. I have dealings on a daily basis with the minister's office, but not on ATIP. I have responsibility as well for the parliamentary unit in the department.

Information & Ethics committee  No, no. I do not meet with the minister personally. I am involved in meetings from time to time, but I do not have occasion to speak to the minister as part of my day-to-day activities. I assume my responsibilities as director general within the office. I am responsible for acces

Information & Ethics committee  I must say that I speak to Ms. Sabourin almost every day. In order to improve our access to information performance, we had to develop an action plan. So we developed a procedure to improve our performance—

Information & Ethics committee  No. The minister does not--

Information & Ethics committee  It depends on the document. As I indicated in my statement, we advise both the minister's office and the department's communication bureau of the titles of access requests that have been received. Irrespective of the nature, either or both may wish to prepare a House card for us

Information & Ethics committee  On the access requests themselves, there was not. For most issues of high international profile, if there's an access request for them, there are usually media lines or a House card developed. The existing House card for use by the minister in the House, let's say on Sudan, may

Information & Ethics committee  It's at the very end of the process. It's not a question of briefing; it's a question of the communication bureau and/or the minister's office receiving, as I indicated in my statement, the redacted package and saying, oh, we'd better update the minister's House card on whatever

Information & Ethics committee  You're talking about the human rights report?

Information & Ethics committee  As I explained in my statement, the minister's office put an alert and indicated that they wished to see the package when it was ready to go out. But, no, he was not briefed that a request had come in. As I explained in my statement, we have, I think, over 500 requests right now.

Information & Ethics committee  Lines were prepared. Quite frankly, lines on Afghanistan are prepared every day.

Information & Ethics committee  That's correct.

Information & Ethics committee  No, we don't how The Globe and Mail got the information it has, nor do we know exactly what The Globe and Mail has.