Evidence of meeting #55 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.
Director, Human Rights, Gender Equality, Health and Population Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Yes, there is an avenue.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
Good. That's the only thing I wanted to ask. I just think we needed to clear some of the air.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Thank you, Mr. Van Kesteren.
We'll have Mr. Dhaliwal, followed by Mr. Tilson.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To all the public servants who are here today, I'll carry on with Mr. Van Kesteren's question.
When we talk about no political interference, the way we see the present government bullying its own members, kicking them out, do you see...?
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Wallace, can you give me a minute to ask a question? You had all your time. If you really want to follow your minister's letter, then let me pay due respect to the honourable public servants we have here. I thought you were much more mature than this.
Mr. Chair--
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Whatever insults you want to trade, would you please trade them through the chair?
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
First of all, I'd like to make the record clear. We got this bullying letter from the minister today, so his caucus members should pay due respect to it.
Second, we should act very professionally. I come from a professional background, and when members on the other side speak, you will never hear me intervening. I would like the same respect to be given by the other side so we can show our witnesses that we are serious about this matter.
This is a very serious matter where Canada's reputation is at stake. It's a situation with human rights where there are departures happening--so alleges the corrupt Karzai government in Afghanistan. So we should be very serious.
To Ms. Kutz again, you said when you applied subsection 15(1).... I'm not very clear about this. When you said there were risks to the source, what did you figure out were the risks for blacking out those...?
Before I go there, I would like to show you a piece of paper I have from the Globe and Mail from April 26, 2007. There was a story on the cover-up. There were some sections that were shown in this story that were blacked out in that report.
What was the situation like in your office on that day when you first read this story in the paper?
Director, Human Rights, Gender Equality, Health and Population Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I don't recall what the situation in my office was. We were probably very busy dealing with our day-to-day work.
There would have been a request in the system for a Q and A response and to respond to media about that article or the ongoing issue. But that's a normal part of our everyday business. We respond to questions and answers on a daily basis on multiple issues.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
When I look at this, the government was out of shape on that day. On this issue, the minister and the government were hung out to dry in Parliament. You say your department had no reaction to this story in the Globe and Mail.
Director, Human Rights, Gender Equality, Health and Population Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Excuse me, I did not say the department had no reaction to the article. I said it reacted to that article in the same way it reacts to all kinds of articles that appear in the paper that are items of interest to our department and for which we may expect questions in the House or questions to the department for further information.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
You know what the original version of the report was. How would the original version of the report have been a risk to the source--which is Afghanistan in this case--if you had not blacked out the words “torture”, “killings” and “injustice” happening there?
Director, Human Rights, Gender Equality, Health and Population Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I am not at liberty to discuss specific references to the report that were redacted, as this is not before the committee. However, let me advise again that the rationale applied under section 15 is sometimes with reference to injury to the source, if a source is identified who could come under physical threat or injury, be put on a black list, or have his visas denied, etc. That is one of several rationales that may be given. Other ones refer to whether the release of that information would endanger or jeopardize the relationship with someone who provides information--
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
We have already listened to this answer.
My question is that torture in 2002--
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
I'm sorry, we've gone over that. You're at six minutes now, and I notice that we have four minutes left and two questioners.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Chair, if we cannot get the answer to this question, we are--
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
We can always bring the witnesses back if we feel that's necessary.
But I'm mindful of the time and I'd like to give the other three members at least a chance to ask one question before we call it a day.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Thank you, sir.
I'll go to Mr. Tilson, Madame Lavallée, and Mr. Stanton. I would appreciate it if you would ask one question each.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
My question has to do with the issue of delay and how that can be avoided. Do you anticipate new technologies that could alleviate the delay? Second, are you asked to perform administrative tasks that take you away from the main work you're doing?
ATIP Team Leader, Access to Information and Privacy Protection Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
With respect to the technology, as far as I'm aware, we have the standard for the field. We're always aware of new technologies coming out, but I think what we have is what's in use right now.
What was the second part of your question?
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
The second question was whether you're being asked to do certain administrative tasks that perhaps you shouldn't be doing and that take you away from the principal work you're required to do.