Evidence of meeting #46 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was report.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Are you...?
You wanted to adjourn twenty minutes ago, for crying out loud.
Conservative
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Welcome to ethics, for four hours.
I want to comment on the ATIP process, as this motion relates to it. The federal Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act were passed back in April of 1993. In this department, the access to information and privacy protection division has full delegated responsibilities for the administration of both acts. The division receives and processes requests for information by gathering relevant records from the program areas in accessing--I have a point when I get to it--where portions should be protected from disclosure, which is part of the rules.
Conservative
Colin Mayes Conservative Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
We have a meeting scheduled here for 11 o'clock. I would ask that this committee reconvene in another room. We have privilege over this room at 11 o'clock.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Thank you.
Specifically what happens--because this is what the motion talks about--is that there are justifications and there are experts who do this. Records that contain information obtained in confidence from another country must be safeguarded as well as information whose release could be injurious to international relations.
Specifically, the following exempting provisions could be invoked to withhold information, including on any reports that we get on Afghanistan. I want to tell you what sections they are.
Section 13 of the Access to Information Act protects against disclosure of information obtained in confidence from a foreign government and is consequently treated as such. That could be one of the reasons why we had that blacked out.
Section 15 of the act protects against disclosure of information that is likely to be injurious to international affairs and defence, including military and defence affairs as well as hostile activities. This includes positions adopted by the Government of Canada, any foreign government, and any international organization.
Section 17 of the act protects against the disclosure of information that could be reasonably expected to threaten the safety of individuals. That includes the Canadians who are on the ground in Afghanistan.
Section 21 of the act protects against disclosure of information that constitutes advice, including, but not limited to, advice or recommendations provided to a minister, as well as an account of consultations and deliberations between public servants.
I asked the Office of the Information Commissioner--and you can get this off the website--what this means....
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, the bells are ringing in the House.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
What is the point of order, Mr. Martin? We know that the bells are ringing.
Mr. Stanton.
Conservative
Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON
Mr. Chair, in light of the fact that there's another committee coming here, I believe it's not proper to occupy the space. If we're still in debate, it's only proper that we find another room to continue this debate, if that be the case, otherwise we adjourn.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Let's vote. We're going to vote one day anyway. Why don't we just vote and get this over with?
Conservative