Procedure and House Affairs committee  Well, without question, the Speaker's rulings are addressed to every member of the House of Commons. He does not rule...he does not address one part of the House; he addresses the whole House.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes, although in parts of his ruling his remarks may be evidently directed toward one part of the House or another, but generally the whole ruling is directed to all members of Parliament and, through the process, to Canadians generally, yes.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Well, that could be the inference you draw from that. He is speaking to the parliamentary procedural issues and speaking about the rights of this particular institution vis-à-vis the government.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That's correct, if the Opposition is not divided.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It's up to the committee to answer that question. Is it important for the committee or for the House of Commons to have those figures when it reviews the bill?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Do you want me to comment on the honesty or transparency of the government? Those are political issues. It's up to the government to determine under what circumstances it will release information.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes, it is.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The word “normal” can have different meanings in the political sphere. What is “normal”? You have one idea of what is normal and Ms. DeBellefeuille may have another.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The principle remains the same: members of Parliament have a right to receive documents or information.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes. On the other hand, it is possible for the government to explain to parliamentarians why the information was not provided and that parliamentarians will accept that explanation.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That is your opinion.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It is not up to me to say so; that is a political judgment.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes, it is.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Who has that power? Well, no one, specifically, because as soon as the Clerk of the Privy Council determines that this or that document is confidential, it's all over from a judicial standpoint, given what is provided for under section 39 of the Canada Evidence Act. However, as

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Twenty years.