Evidence of meeting #36 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was recommendations.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Thank you very much. And if you have any other suggestions for us about matters to consider for proposal, we would entertain those as well. How does before you leave for summer vacation sound?
Thank you very much to Ms. Kobernick, Ms. Remsu, and Mr. Kratchanov. We do appreciate your time and the minister's time, and we hope that our report, when it ultimately comes out, will be helpful input to the minister in his work.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Law Sector, Department of Justice
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Thank you. You're excused.
Colleagues, Mr. Hiebert had asked me about witnesses. I want to first of all inform members that despite our best efforts, we were not able to get any provincial privacy commissioner to be with us on Thursday.
We do have the Bar Association coming on June 3, Correctional Service of Canada on June 5, and the Privacy Commissioner is tentatively scheduled to come back before us on June 10. The Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime has been invited, and we have already followed up with them. And we have not had the chiefs of police.
The only other specific one was with regard to Correctional Service of Canada, which is next Thursday. That's where we are right now. Of course, every time we hear witnesses, and of course the ministry now, other thoughts and things....
I'm going to hear from Mr. Hiebert, given that's where we are right now, if he has further thoughts for the committee's consideration.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Mr. Chair, I'm at a bit of a loss in terms of the lack of success we've had in bringing witnesses before this committee. About two weeks ago we submitted a list of 20 organizations, perhaps even more, that could reasonably be called to speak to this topic. You've talked about one or two that weren't available and three or four that are. But I'm wondering about the other 10 or 15 we proposed.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
On which dates would you like them to appear? Our dates are filled until June 10.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
That's only two weeks from now. We have many more people to hear from.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I hear you. At the last meeting you may recall that I circulated to all members a complete list of all possible witnesses and asked if there were any places we had to fill in to make recommendations.
Mr. Hiebert, every member has an opportunity to suggest witnesses, but no member has the authority to call for witnesses. It is the decision of the committee of the whole. You submitted a list of 20 without any rationale as to why it was important for us to see them. The committee should have an opportunity to suggest.
I'm going to suggest something, if I may. Members have the lists of all the people who have come from the Privacy Commissioner, our research assistant, and Mr. Hiebert. I think those are the three areas we had lists from. Is there anybody there who is important for us to do the work we want to do on this and should be proposed to us? I believe I asked for an explanation as to the importance of a witness to our work, so the committee can consider it and make a decision.
Can we do that for Thursday?
Conservative
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Mr. Chair, I would be happy to provide you with a list. It was my understanding when we gave you the last list that you simply wanted names. At that point, to my knowledge, you didn't ask for justification. I thought it was self-evident, based on the people and organizations on the list, that it was very much within the scope of their responsibility that they could speak to this. But if you want me to resubmit the list with justifications, I'll be happy to do so.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Now I know what the problem is. Unfortunately, Mr. Hiebert, you weren't here at the last meeting when we did this. I should have told you. I apologize.
During the meeting I circulated the lists of all the names of the people coming from various sources and specifically asked for recommendations to fill in the areas where we felt we still had need for expertise--with a rationalization. I'm sorry; you weren't here. I should have let you know about this, because I know you lead on this file.
Can we do this on Thursday? Let's take the time and do it on Thursday.
I want to deal with the main estimates. Colleagues, we did a review of the main estimates of Ms. Dawson, Mr. Marleau, and Madam Stoddart, with regard to the votes under the main estimates for each of those. The recommendation at the time was that we not take a vote on approving the estimates one by one, but wait until we finished all three, which we have.
PARLIAMENT
Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Vote 20--Program expenditures..........$6,338,000
JUSTICE
Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
Vote 40--Program expenditures..........$6,733,000
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Vote 45--Program expenditures..........$15,898,000
(Votes 20, 40, and 45 agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Shall the chair report vote 20 under Parliament and votes 40 and 45 under Justice to the House?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Thank you.
Mr. Martin and Mr. Hubbard have asked for the floor.
Mr. Martin.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I sent to the clerk, and he circulated to members, a notice of motion that I would like to deal with after the appropriate period next Thursday. There was a typographical error and I'd like the indulgence of the committee to change the language.
It now says the “third report of the committee Presented to the House on April 2, 2008”. No, I'm sorry. It now says “third”; I want it to say the “fifth...on April 2, 2008”. The motion I submitted currently says the “third report of the committee presented February 29, 2008”. So whether you deem this as notice of motion or what I've sent to the clerk's office as notice of motion, I want it corrected.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Because you can still have notice for Thursday's meeting, maybe you can simply change the “third” to the “fifth” on your own word processor and resubmit it to the clerk.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
That's what my office is doing as we speak. I just wanted it to be clear.
Liberal
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
I have another motion, that the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics investigate the actions of the Conservative Party Canada during the 2006 election in relation to which Elections Canada has refused to reimburse Conservative candidates for certain election campaign expenses in order to determine if these actions meet the ethical standards expected of public office-holders.
I would like to table that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
So that's a notice of motion only. That will be dealt with on Thursday.
Is there any further business?
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
I have another motion that I'd like to bring forward. I know this committee considered this at one time in the past, but I'd like to resubmit the motion dealing with the Liberal fundraising tactics. We agreed at one point to call witnesses. Then the committee abruptly changed its direction.
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
I would like to move a motion that we waste more time at this committee over the next number of months.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Okay. Order.
Thank you, colleagues. I appreciate your indulgence. On Thursday, please, on the witnesses. Then we'll deal with the motions.
We're adjourned.
