Evidence of meeting #44 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was confidential.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:05 a.m.
Liberal
Ken Boshcoff Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
From a public service standpoint then, how can someone do their job for public safety if they're always under the fear of the guillotine if they step out of line?
9:05 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
They do their best.
9:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Thank you very much. The time has expired.
Mr. Miller, the floor is yours, for five minutes.
9:05 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
I thank the witnesses for coming here today.
Dr. Evans talked to us yesterday and answered questions. I urge you to read the blues of the meeting when you get a chance; I don't know whether they're released yet today. He basically refuted anything and every question that the opposition had, so I really urge you to read that. One thing he told us yesterday was that strategic reviews happen all the time; they're common.
Going back to Mr. Storseth's question--actually, it was even before that--you admitted in your comments, Ms. Demers, that it was a secret document. That would tell me right off the bat that you recognized that and realized it should never have been released by that employee, even to the union.
Who else read that document when you had it? You indicated that you sent it back to CFIA. Who else read it? Did you or anyone else, Mr. Pomerleau or anybody else, make a copy?
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
I read the document, and the document--
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
I don't think anybody made copies. I instructed everyone who received an electronic copy.... And that would have been the members--
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
That means everybody there would have it. That's good enough on that note.
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Could I specify what I was starting to say, so you understand?
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Okay, if you're brief about it, because it's my time.
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The electronic copy was sent to the members of the veterinary medicine group executive and the scientific and analytical group.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
That would be about 20 people.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Okay, so copies of this document definitely were made, indirectly or directly.
One thing you also said earlier was that it's your goal to defend your members. That's part of your job and that's what you're doing here today. Would it be fair to say that no matter what any of your members do, it's your job or obligation to defend them? And that would be whether they stole in the workplace, had poor work habits, or leaked confidential documents. Would that be a fair assessment, that your job is to defend them, basically, no matter what they do? Yes or no?
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
My fair assessment would be that I represent professionals—
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
—who have a code of ethics that they like to follow.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The answer is that I sort of wear two hats. I represent the professional standards of the people I represent, and I also represent them from a labour relations perspective.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative