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.
Conservative
Diane Finley Conservative Haldimand—Norfolk, ON
--and it is that this Parliament has a long tradition of not calling on elected staffers--
Conservative
Diane Finley Conservative Haldimand—Norfolk, ON
--as we made sure we did when a previous immigration minister stood up and appeared before the committee--I believe this very committee--when her staff were accused of certain conduct. There is precedent, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
The chair has a responsibility to maintain order and decorum in the committee. I've made a ruling. I've indicated to you... You have made your argument twice--at least. I understand, but that can't supersede the motion adopted by this committee and our rights delegated under section 108 of the Standing Orders from the House to have this person appear and to ask questions and have them answer them.
We don't have an obligation to respect your departmental rules. We have the rules guiding this committee. So I've made my decision, and again, for the final time, I'm going to ask Mr. Sparrow to answer the question.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I'm sorry. Can the member repeat the question?
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
And here I thought we would have an uneventful day of questioning.
Mr. Sparrow, you recited to us—
And I'd like my time back, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Okay.
Mr. Sparrow, you indicated the reasons why you thought it important to intervene and amend the response that was going to Mr. Leblanc. My question to you was, why did you, in your response, not tell them that you were waiting for final numbers?
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Chair, as I said in my statement, my goal was to provide accurate information in a timely manner. That was accomplished. I spoke to the ADM in response and I told him my decision, and he agreed.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
My question again to you is, why did you not indicate that in your response--that you were waiting for more accurate numbers?
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Chair, in respect to the member's question, I've just indicated that I did speak to the ADM responsible for communications and I informed him of my decision and the reason why, and that was to provide accurate information in a timely manner.
The ad campaign was not finished at the time, and just to refer to my statement, the question was to provide costs and the frequency of the ads. It is impossible to provide the frequency of the ads until the TV ad campaign has been finalized and—
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
—if I may, that's why accurate information was provided.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
I understand that.
Now, Mr. Sparrow, I have another question. Minister Finley said that on 51 occasions in the last month your office has altered responses to media requests for information. Were you involved in any of these?
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Chair, with all due respect, the member's prelude is false; that information is not correct. That's not what the minister said.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
All right. Have you been involved in other interventions where the media has requested information?
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
If I could refer to my statement, I enter the “Communications Policy of the Government of Canada”. “Ministers are the principal spokespersons of the Government of Canada—”
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Mr. Sparrow, I've asked you a simple question. Have you been involved in other interventions where the media has requested information, you have intercepted it, and changed it or altered it?
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Chair, if I may finish...?
Liberal
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Chair, may I finish my remarks?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Mr. Sparrow, I would ask you not to return to the rationalization that the minister speaks on behalf of the department, okay? I think the member has asked a direct question. Just simply, have you been involved in any of these matters that he refers to? That's known to you. I think it requires a direct answer.
I don't want to lecture you on the rules or the powers of a committee. What I'd like to do is just get through the witnesses to get the information, and I hope that everybody will just cooperate. Let's be concise in our questions and in our answers. Okay? Please.
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister, Human Resources and Skills Development, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Chair, I was prepared to respond, but I think it's important to put into context, as I did my statement, my roles and responsibilities as a director of communications.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
We know what's in your statement. You made it.
I'm asking you a further question beyond what was said in your statement, Mr. Sparrow. Please answer the question.