Evidence of meeting #5 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 schreiber.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
We need to deal with this question of the members here.
So you have records that you believe are necessary for you to testify before us in Ottawa, Toronto, and Switzerland.
11:50 a.m.
As an Individual
I can arrange the papers on time. It depends very much what you want really to know. If you want to come to the truth for Canadians—
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I think that's helpful.
If in fact we proceed as we had originally planned, the members are going to give you an indication of the nature of the questions, so that you can prepare for them.
Do you have here in Ottawa, in your home in Ottawa, do I understand—
11:50 a.m.
As an Individual
Yes. It depends what you want. When you speak about the affidavit, no, because this was prepared with my lawyer. I have been eight weeks in jail now, so my lawyer came there, and it was all stuff he had at home and from the court cases.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
But you would have the ability to have any records that you have in Toronto or Switzerland forwarded to you if necessary.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Okay. So the documents are going to be available, and we do have Ottawa documents that probably will cover the germane areas of the question before us.
Mr. Schreiber, please.
11:50 a.m.
As an Individual
I have to remind you that I for years asked for an inquiry, and I am heavily interested to bring it out, but in a way on proper evidence. I was a judge for nine years in my country. I know exactly what you need, and I am not going have this as a political circus with some evidence. I want to have the truth out, and nothing else. What this gentleman is saying, yes, there is something—
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Mr. Schreiber, order please.
I think we understand.
Could you advise me whether you're aware of whether you can have your records with you at the location where you stay overnight?
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I'm interested in the question: are you permitted to have your documents with you at the detention centre?
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
At this point, Mr. Auger, maybe you can just confirm with the directions you've been given by policing authorities who are responsible for the custody of Mr. Schreiber whether there are any restrictions on him having his papers with him while he is no longer in the custody of Parliament on the Hill here. Could you advise him on whether he has...or make a consultation right now? We'll take the time for you to get the answer to that question. Advise him so we can be absolutely sure that once he leaves here, no matter where he's going, and is required to go, that he will have access....
In fact the order, the Speaker's warrant, is clear. It says that Mr. Schreiber has “access to any place to retrieve any necessary document as may be needed”. That means he specifically is authorized by this Speaker's warrant to go to his home to get the papers and all the documents he needs, so that he is satisfied that he has what he needs to be able to come here to give fulsome answers to the questions that are posed to him.
Could you please make that inquiry right now of whatever authorities? And if it's not possible to do within the next few moments, I will suspend this meeting until you get an answer for this committee.
Thank you.
Go ahead.
11:50 a.m.
An hon. member
What are we doing?
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
The motion before us, if I may, and the member is correct, is that Mr. Schreiber, after we release him from here, will have his papers and have an opportunity to review them. My concern would be if he is taken immediately back to the detention centre, and the order does not allow him to have those papers with him in the detention centre, then there won't be a meeting tonight because he won't be able to do what we're asking him to do.
So I'm asking to establish, please, right now if possible, or I'll suspend this meeting until we get this answer, that you, Mr. Schreiber, will have full opportunity to review your documents, so when you return before us, whenever the committee decides, you will be in a position to give fulsome answers to the questions posed. Can you consult with your lawyer and find out how we determine who is responsible to answer that question: can Mr. Schreiber have his papers at the detention centre?
Mr. Van Kesteren is the next on the list with regard to Mr. Hiebert's motion.
November 29th, 2007 / 11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In light of what Mr. Schreiber has just told us, I really see no reason why this isn't an excellent idea, that we could just begin proceedings tonight and tomorrow.
Many of the questions that we will be asking you, sir, will be of such a nature that I don't think you will need much documentation, or any documentation.
We too want to get to the bottom of this. It would appear that the opposition, who were just giddy about extra dates and going on into December and January.... It's somewhat puzzling why they wouldn't entertain such a motion, and more than that, be very receptive to it, because we can shorten this and get to the bottom of it.
I think this is something that, again, has been stated, that the Canadian public expects. Let's get started. I would encourage the opposition to not delay this. Let's get started with the proceedings and let's get to the bottom of it.
Thank you.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
My next speaker is Mr. Hiebert, who is not at his place. We'll come back to him.
Mr. Del Mastro, and then I'll go to Mr. Hiebert when he's back to his place. After that I have Mr. Asselin, Mr. Thibault, and Madame Lavallée.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Schreiber just indicated a few moments ago, based on my comments, that he feels that this is a “circus”. I believe that is the word he just used. I encourage my colleagues across the way not to encourage this committee meeting to become a circus. As the Prime Minister said yesterday, he hopes that this committee is a credit to Parliament. As a credit to Parliament, this committee should want to work to get to the bottom of this. Let's not allow ourselves to be led down a path of delay and excuse after excuse and delay. This will go on forever, Mr. Chair.
I humbly suggest that these matters are not new to Mr. Schreiber. We are asking questions of a general nature, which I'm sure he can answer. I would suggest that his contention that he's not prepared to say anything, or that he needs substantial time to prepare, or that he needs substantial time to review documents that are in Switzerland or Toronto or Ottawa, or Lord knows, maybe the next set will be in the Caymans.... Let's just get on with this and let's get to the truth.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, since I moved that motion a number of minutes ago there seems to have been some misunderstanding of the motion. I want to be very clear.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
I will ask you to read it in just a moment.
I want to be very clear that I am not calling for the conclusion of this meeting right now. I'm not calling for adjournment. I am calling for this committee meeting to continue, giving members the opportunity, if they so choose, to ask the questions of Mr. Schreiber that they want. And at the conclusion of this committee, we'll reconvene, either tonight at 7 o'clock or tomorrow, after Mr. Schreiber's court of appeal application has been heard.
Could you please read the motion?
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Exactly as you've stated it, that is the written motion I have before me. I think the members understand your intent. It's to adjourn not at this moment but at the end of this meeting, when it has concluded. We understand that.
Thank you.
We'll have Mr. Asselin, s'il vous plaît.