We've circulated to you a paper comparing the proposals over time in dealing with clause 55 of Bill C-11, and clause 222 on section 55. You have that sheet in front of you. From that point of view, you'll notice that in clause 55 in Bill C-11--the original one--it authorized secrecy for five years. It was discretionary, not mandatory. It used the word “may”. It was focused on protecting the identities of whistle-blowers and those cooperating in investigations. That was the original proposal.
On the other hand, clause 222 of Bill C-2 authorizes secrecy forever. In other words, it never comes out and it's mandatory, not discretionary. It does not focus on identities. It authorizes secrecy for information created for the purpose of making a disclosure and information created in the course of an investigation into a disclosure.
I'm in agreement with the public service integrity officer, and he has suggested that secrecy only cover the period during which the investigation is under way. He has asked for discretion to disclose information in the public interest, such as the identities of wrongdoers.
To take your example one step further, Mr. Chairman, if I have been falsely accused, why should I not have the evidence to protect my reputation? Under this proposal it is mandatory that no information come out forever, so why should I, as a person who has been accused and cleared, not have access to the information? That affects me.