Information & Ethics Committee on May 6th, 2010

Evidence of meeting #13 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 question.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Allegations of Interference in Access to Information Requests

MPs speaking

Paul Szabo

Pierre Poilievre

Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac

Also speaking

Sébastien Togneri Former Parliamentary Affairs Director, Department of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Thank you.

Colleagues, there is another committee meeting that I must attend on behalf of the liaison committee to approve travel budgets for committees. I must be there. There are important votes. We have to terminate this meeting shortly.

I want to indicate, first of all, that I'm sorry members thought to make some assumptions about what happened this morning with the Information Commissioner. I think members may want to rethink their logic when they understand that it was the Information Commissioner who called me.

12:55 p.m.

An hon. member

[Inaudible--Editor]

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

No. She called yesterday to ask to speak with me at nine o'clock this morning. I was in my office at nine o'clock this morning. The Information Commissioner called and I took her call. That's how it happened.

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON

Did you ask her for a written confirmation?

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

We will deal with this later.

Mr. Togneri, the Assistant Information Commissioner's statement to you has put you in a situation where you have not answered a number of questions, or only partially answered some questions. As a consequence, I think it's only fair, to clear this up, that I will be undertaking to get in writing from the Information Commissioner a clear assessment and statement of the obligations you have under that communication you had received and to provide it to be circulated in both official languages to the committee before the next meeting.

Because, sir, the summons indicates that you will remain in attendance until discharged, and I think under the circumstances, sir, it would be inappropriate for me to discharge you from appearing before the committee. Accordingly, I'm indicating to you that this summons remains in force, and I expect you to be here on Tuesday, May 11, at 11 a.m. in this room, unless otherwise advised of those details. Do you understand that order, sir?

12:55 p.m.

Former Parliamentary Affairs Director, Department of Public Works and Government Services, As an Individual

Sébastien Togneri

I heard you. I understand.

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Thank you.

We're adjourned.