Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I had a good look at the letter that was sent to you yesterday. In the letter, which is fairly brief, the minister asks us to carry out a comprehensive study on access to information reform, giving careful consideration to the discussion papers. I think that Ms. Hurtubise-Loranger's presentation shows that this act has been the subject of many studies for some years. It starts in 1987. In 2001, Mr. Bryden had a go. There was a task force in 2002. And responses in 2002. There were also successive private members' bills from John Bryden and Pat Martin in 2003 and 2004. Minister Irwin Cotler produced the Comprehensive Framework for Access to Information Reform. We heard about the committee asking John Reid for a new bill, about a motion in the House and the seventh report of the standing committee. There was the Federal Accountability Act, which—yes—did introduce certain things. And there was also the work we did here on the “Access to Information Act: First Steps Towards Renewal” report.
Indeed, a huge amount of work has been done, if we also consider that this week, 12 panel members worked very hard on making proposals and suggestions.
As for what is being asked of us in that letter, I wonder what more we can do as a committee, what other work we can do, since we have, throughout all these steps, examined and re-examined the issue, and started the work over again. We have brought in panellists, those who are the most qualified to give us insight, and the work was taken very seriously. All these years, the work was always taken very seriously.
I think the time has come, the bell tolls. I want to tell the members of this committee that the work was carried out very seriously and with the utmost professionalism. We examined the issue inside and out. Now, I think it is up to the minister to show some political will and leadership, a very specific will by this government to introduce a bill to amend the existing act. We have finished our work; we cannot go any further. It is now up to Minister Nicholson and the Conservative government to move the issue forward and to serve Canadians by giving them access to information, and to revive this outdated act. That is what I think, Mr. Chair.
As far as we are concerned, we have done our job. We cannot go any further. We do not have the mandate to create a new bill. It is up to the government to do it. It now has all the tools it needs, all the information necessary. Our work is done.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.