Evidence of meeting #15 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.
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
No.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Was the PMO or the PMO issues management branch aware that you had given the direction to change the information to be released?
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I made the decision, I informed the department of the decision, and I informed the Prime Minister's Office following the decision being made of the ultimate outcome.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
So you do report to the PMO when you make those kinds of decisions or was it just with this particular case?
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Since this was quite a prominent advertising campaign and other ministers, including the Prime Minister, could have been asked questions in relation to the advertising campaign, I felt it was prudent to inform them of possible media questions coming forward.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Does that not indicate that you have some kind of reporting relationship with the Prime Minister's Office?
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I report to the minister.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I didn't report to them. I simply informed them of my decision.
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Yes.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Did the Prime Minister's Office issues management branch approve of your decision to request that the information be changed before you communicated that back to the departmental officials?
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
It was my decision; I was the final approval on behalf of the minister.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
So there was no approval process with the Prime Minister's Office or the issues management branch?
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
No, I was acting on behalf of the minister.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Did you consult the PMO issues management branch about this decision before you made it?
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I made the decision and I informed them of my decision.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Okay.
Did you discuss or report your suggested response or your suggested changes to the departmental recommendation to anyone at the PMO or the issues management branch?
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I made my decision and I simply told them of my decision.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Okay. Now we've heard that of the 235 requests from the media that the department received in the last six months, in 51 there were suggested changes. Of those 51, how many were reported to the PMO?
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I have no idea.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Is it many? Is it few? Is it all of them? Is it almost all of them?
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
It would be impossible to speculate. I would suggest that the figure would probably be low.
11:50 a.m.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Generally, yes.