The fact is we have the request to the minister and he's decided that he has other things on his plate and this isn't important. It's not like we decided this was the first shot at it. This was because of the frustration of the committee. If the minister's deciding, and he has that right, as was mentioned, that he isn't able, or perhaps some would say willing, to come before our committee, then as a committee you have to look at other options.
I remind committee members of this report from the Information Commissioner. As I said before in committee, it's not a great report card. There's some remediation required. If we can't get the minister to come forward—And I must note that one of the ministries that gets a failing grade is the justice department, and we've seen the foot-dragging from them.
I guess I just have to buttress the comments made by the chair. How the heck do you deal with a ministry when the minister doesn't come forward? You have to look at other ways of doing it, because the people demand accountability from the government, and if the minister of the crown's not willing to come forward, what other options do you have?
This is a government that ran on accountability. This is a government that brought forward the accountability act. The foundation of accountability is transparency, it's access to information. If we don't have that and we don't have the ministers willing to come forward, then I think we have to try other options.
I think the Canadian people demand that, and that's not a rhetorical flourish. That's the foundation of what we're here to do. It's to provide representation to citizens. One way of doing that is access to information. The way you do that is through a minister of the crown. If he's not willing to come, well—
I think the chair's being very reasonable in saying make accommodations for the minister. He's a very busy person, granted. We all are. What's important? He is paid by the public to represent them on issues like this, and I think it's really important that we send a strong message, and if he's not willing, then to bring officials forward to do so.