Information & Ethics Committee on May 17th, 2007

Evidence of meeting #48 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 amendment.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Committee Business - Access to Information request for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade internal report entitled "Afghanistan 2006: Good Governance, Democratic Development and Human Rights"
Committee Business

MPs speaking

Tom Wappel
David Tilson
Scott Reid
Pat Martin
Mike Wallace
Carole Lavallée
Robert Vincent
Jim Peterson
Sukh Dhaliwal
Bruce Stanton
Dave Van Kesteren
Glen Pearson
Omar Alghabra

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Richard Rumas
Jeff Esau  As an Individual
Amir Attaran  As an Individual

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Mr. Attaran, I'd like to again ask you the question. You indicated that Ms. Nixon, Mr. Switzer, and Ms. Sabourin told you that they saw the report, and they work for the system. But then you indicated that there were some acquaintances, plus departments. Can you tell us who those people are?

4:30 p.m.

Prof. Amir Attaran

No, I can't.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Why is that?

4:30 p.m.

Prof. Amir Attaran

That was not an official function they were performing. They were commenting on The Globe and Mail, not commenting on an access request.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Sir, you told me these people have seen the report. I'd like to know who they are. That's your testimony. You said these people have seen the report, and I believe the committee is entitled to know who they are.

4:30 p.m.

Prof. Amir Attaran

I don't believe.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

So you're not going to tell me?

4:30 p.m.

Prof. Amir Attaran

I'm not going to tell you. They're not people I know well and they're federal civil servants, and I will not be implicating them in a way that would be harmful to their careers.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Which ministry do they work with, sir?

4:30 p.m.

Prof. Amir Attaran

They work with, I mentioned--

4:30 p.m.

Liberal

Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC

This is the wrong thing.

4:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel

[Inaudible--Editor]...questioning.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Which minister do they work for, sir?

4:35 p.m.

Prof. Amir Attaran

I don't know.

May 17th, 2007 / 4:35 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Do you know they work for the government?

4:35 p.m.

Prof. Amir Attaran

They claim so, and in front of the committee I'm not going to get into cocktail conversation of people I do not know well. I have no way of knowing if they were even telling me the truth.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

But you know their names?

4:35 p.m.

Prof. Amir Attaran

Not even first and last.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Okay, so you don't know people who have seen the report?

4:35 p.m.

Prof. Amir Attaran

I have met people.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

You have met people, so could you tell me who they are?

4:35 p.m.

Prof. Amir Attaran

I've told you no.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

You're not going to tell me?

4:35 p.m.

Prof. Amir Attaran

What part of that don't you understand?

4:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel

Monsieur Vincent.