Mr. Chair, I would say it is very obvious, based on the report cars we prepared last year, that there is a lot of leadership in some departments and that makes a huge difference in terms of the application of the Act. For example, there is a lot of leadership in the Department of Justice, and that department achieves excellent access to information results. And yet it is one of the departments that has mandatory consultations. In the area of solicitor-client privilege, that department has an excellent track record.
Leadership in institutions and among deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers truly produces results. Obviously it has a major impact in policy terms. As Commissioner Marleau has said several times in the past, clearly, if a Privy Council directive were to require that 85% of requests receive responses within 30 days, the public service would get into action. In a word, leadership does have a huge impact.
A few weeks ago, I heard Senator Fox suggest in the Senate that deputy ministers' performance in respect of access to information be included in the performance agreements.