Evidence of meeting #12 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was sparrow.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Right. I just don't want you to misinterpret the consensus to mean that we're issuing a subpoena for those dates.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Oh, no. We're talking about seeing if we can work this out.
We'll try this once more. As Mr. Siksay says, “Try, try again, Mr. Chair. Go and do a better job. And stop using the word stunt.”
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I understand, and I'll take that.
Finally, I don't know if all members have had an opportunity to look at it, but we have received the responses of the justice minister on our two reports, the quick fixes on the Access to Information Act and the quick fixes on the Privacy Act. I need direction from the committee on this. He's given us some input. It's not as detailed as I had hoped, but there is certainly more information than we received the first time around.
What did not happen is that the minister did not respond with dates he would be available to appear before us. We passed motions that he would be here for one hour on each report. He can do that in one meeting or two separate meetings--his choice.
Have the members read the reports yet?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I'm looking for direction. I will go to the minister to try to encourage him--
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Chair, what is with ministers in this government that they don't want to provide an answer to questions from committees? I mean, what is with them?
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
We'll look at that report, but I think the minister gave you his word previously, and now we're into the same old story where the minister refuses to appear to answer questions that were raised with him through reports and back them up--
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
What I wanted to do was just advise the committee that I have not discussed this with the minister subsequent to receiving these reports. I have a better idea now where our starting point is.
I wanted to be sure that the committee absolutely wanted to hear from the minister or have him come on each of those reports. I think the answer is still yes, as we agreed upon earlier, and I will then undertake to work with the minister to find the two hours--either at one meeting or two separate meetings--and report back to the committee. Is that acceptable?
Madam Davidson.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
I just want to say something, Mr. Chair. The fact is that the minister has responded again to another response that he's already given to reports. The question isn't when the minister will come to talk about it again. The question is, when will the committee accept what the decision has been from the minister? The decision has been rendered. This isn't something new; this is rehashing an issue that this committee keeps rehashing.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Okay, we're going to get into a debate.
I believe the committee has passed a motion that we follow a course of action, and we will try to execute that. I will report back as soon as I can to the committee as to what arrangement we can make.
There is no further business. The meeting is adjourned.
