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.
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
What was the question again?
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Do you defend them, basically, no matter what they do? It is your obligation to defend these people, your members.
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
It is my responsibility to defend them. We don't defend all cases, but that's the role.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
You don't? Give me some examples where you don't, then.
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President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
There are some cases where we have conversations with members and say, “Look, we cannot in all honesty defend this.”
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
That does happen.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
These are two yes or no questions. Do you have any evidence—
9:10 a.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Mr. Chairman, I have only so much time, and these are easy questions.
Do you have any evidence that cabinet has dealt with this issue since November 2007?
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
That cabinet has dealt with this?
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Yes, that it has dealt with this issue since November 2007, yes or no?
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Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
It had better be a point of order. If it's a point of debate, I'm not going to take it.
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Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
It's not a point of debate. I think, Mr. Chair, the witnesses should be informed by you that they have the right to answer as they see fit and not be badgered into giving an answer by any MP on this committee, me or any other.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
I do take part of that into consideration. We do want witnesses to be utmost with their answers to questions. We don't want to be badgering them. We always like to make sure that we conduct ourselves in the greatest of decorum here, to each other and also to our witnesses, and afford them that respect.
So, Mr. Miller, if you could....
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Mr. Chairman, I certainly do respect the fact that they're there. I think I have the right as a questioner to have straight answers, and if there's more detail needed and a reason...and there was just a minute ago in a case, and we got that. But in most cases it's yes or no.
So going back to my question, do you have evidence that cabinet has dealt with this issue since November 2007, yes or no?
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An hon. member
Or “I don't know”.
9:10 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
I don't know.
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An hon. member
Give her a third option.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Are you leading the witness? Are you a lawyer, Lloyd?
9:15 a.m.
President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The only thing I saw is the letter that's dated November 7.