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.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Chair, if I may correct the member slightly, this was a media inquiry, not an access to information inquiry. They're two very different things, but--
Bloc
Carole Freeman Bloc Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
We understand. It came from the media, but you deliberately withheld information that was available, did you not?
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I insisted on providing accurate details when they were available.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Thank you, Chair.
First of all, I just wanted to say that accusations were made that the committee was trying to silence the minister. I have to say on the record that I disagree with that completely. We've heard from the minister, we appreciated that the minister came to committee, and we could recall the minister. There's no attempt today to silence the minister.
Mr. Sparrow, when you've reported to the PMO that you've approved a sensitive or what you have identified as a political request for information from the media, do you notify your minister that you've reported that to the PMO?
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I didn't report it to them; I informed them. But I don't tell the minister about every conversation I've had with the Prime Minister's Office, no.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
No.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Do you report to the minister when the Prime Minister's Office has raised concerns about information that you've approved to be released? You said that there were sometimes consultations about information that was being released. Do you report to the minister that the Prime Minister's Office has raised concerns about that information?
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I don't inform the minister of every conversation I've had with fellow political staff, no.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Even if it was the Prime Minister's Office that was requesting, not other political staff, but specifically somebody from the Prime Minister's Office, whom you would have notified about an impending release of information you had approved?
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I don't inform the minister of every conversation I've had with other political staff.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Okay.
In your work world, who has the ultimate decision-making power? Is it the minister or is it the Prime Minister's Office around these requests...?
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
In my world, the minister would have the ultimate decision-making—
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
But you have said there are often consultations after you've made that decision on behalf of the minister. So in that situation, if the Prime Minister's Office raised concerns about it, would they be making the decision or would you or the minister be making the decision?
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
To clarify, I think what I said was that when I inform the Prime Minister's Office on my decisions, there are instances where we have conversations surrounding particular cases, but I ultimately act on behalf of the minister and make the final decision on media inquiries.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
So you might revisit your decision and change it on advice from the Prime Minister's Office after that kind of conversation.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I don't recall instances where I've made a decision and I have subsequently changed that decision. There are situations where I work with my colleagues to develop a comprehensive response.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Mr. Sparrow, thank you kindly for your appearance. The committee has two other witnesses that we do have to hear from for as long as we can. I appreciate your appearance.
It was nice to see you again, Minister.
You're excused.
I invite the other witnesses to come to the table.
But in the meantime, as they're transitioning and the staff is putting out the nameplates, Madame Freeman has circulated to the committee a motion to call for five additional witnesses for us to consider.
Madame Freeman, do you want to move this motion as circulated to the members? Are you prepared to move your motion right now?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
So as circulated, we don't have to read it into the record...? We could--
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Okay.
Is there any explanation that you'd care to give for this motion or is it straightforward?