Evidence of meeting #18 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 speak.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
The committee has moved from our order of the day to committee business. As a consequence, the motion that the member is proposing to the committee now would require 48 hours' notice in order to be put on as a committee business item. It is out of order at this time.
On a point of order, Madam Davidson.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, we moved to table the previous motion that came from Mr. Siksay; we did not agree to move on. We did not vote on that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Once our business is complete on the first... The witness is not here. The minister has not been accepted to be there. That item is complete. The only other item we have on our agenda is committee business.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Are you saying now that once this committee moves on, the business is complete? Then how do you rationalize your argument that Mr. Togneri is never done until you tell him he's done? Once the committee moves on... We can't have it both ways.
Conservative
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Chair, I believe we're in discussion on Mr. Lukiwski's point of order. If that is the case, then Madam Davidson can't make a motion during the point of order. You can't make a motion when you're discussing a point of order.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I've already addressed that. We agree that the minister, like any member of Parliament, has the right to participate fully in committees other than if they're not signed in to vote, or make motions, etc.
Mr. Poilievre, on a point of order.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
It strikes me that none of the motions that have been put forward by any of the members... Let me start with the premise you have constructed on behalf of the committee. You said that after it was acknowledged that the witness you wanted to see return was not here, discussion was then complete, and any motions thereafter were not to be entertained. It was on the basis of that rationale that you rejected Ms. Davidson's motions. Therefore, the motions moved by members of the other parties should not have been entertained in the first place. Therefore, they are nullified as though they never existed.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
The initial motion of Mr. Siksay was in order. He was dealing with the current order of the day, being allegations of interference. The motion to table was related to that same motion, so it was also in order, and once that--
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Mrs. Davidson's is also related to the subject of the day.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Excuse me. Once those matters were dealt with, the motion to table, there was no further business with regard to the order of the day. We move on--
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
No, just a moment. My ruling was that we are going on to committee business. That was the intent of the committee. When we're in committee business, we're not going back to reopen things.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
That's my ruling. If you disagree with the ruling, your right would be to challenge the ruling of the chair, sir.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
My ruling is we're on other committee business.
Mr. Poilievre, on another point of order.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I'm sorry, sir, that is not a point of order.
Okay, the first item is the report of the subcommittee that held its meeting last Thursday to try to get some work plan for the committee. I'd like to circulate for the committee--if you can, Mr. Clerk--the calendar. We have very few meetings left, and it's going to be extremely important for the committee to make sure we make use of each and every meeting and that we do spend the time.
First of all, with regard to next week, the members of the steering committee are recommending, as per the summonses that were authorized for the chair to issue, that on June 8 we would deal with Jillian Andrews, and on June 10 Mr. Sudas. The other items currently on the list of other committee business that are not disposed of finally would be carried forward on all notices of meetings until they in fact discharge.
So on today's notice of meeting, you will see there is the instruction to the chair concerning the appearance of the Minister of Justice before the committee. I think I indicated to the committee that this morning I received a letter from the minister and he has agreed to appear before us on Thursday the 17th. That will probably be a full two hours: one hour on each of the reports, the quick fixes on the Access to Information Act, and the quick fixes report on the Privacy Act.
With regard to Google, just to advise the committee, you may be aware that on the Google Street View and Canpages study that we did, we had a draft report. That report was held subject to determining whether the current investigations by the Privacy Commissioner with regard to the collection of private information by Google Street View, when they were doing their 360-camera pictures around the country, that other information was... In fact, Canada is involved, and there are matters to be discussed, so the committee is recommending that we not proceed with the Google Street View report or have witnesses until we've had an opportunity to consult with the Privacy Commissioner as to what her office is doing in this regard. We will then be able to better plan how we might ultimately report on that matter.
Then we have the discussions of the Governor in Council appointment process. This is Madam Freeman. We were advised that it won't take very long, but Madam Freeman is not here today, so we can't deal with that. Therefore, the only other matter that we have is with regard to the discussions on drafting a report to the current study, and we have had...
Sorry, just a moment, please.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Okay. Under Standing Order 108, we have responsibilities for this committee specifically. One has to do with review of the annual reports of commissioners. I am just advised that this morning the Information Commissioner tabled her annual report, and that is referred immediately to the committee for its consideration. We will speak with the Information Commissioner to see if we can arrange a convenient time for her to be here.
Secondly and probably more importantly, I also have been advised that this morning a certificate of nomination of Madame Suzanne Legault has been filed, which is recommending that she be appointed the new Information Commissioner. That appointment happens by the committee's meeting and having the nominee appear before the committee, reviewing that nomination with her, and making a report back to the House, with which the House will be asked to concur on the day it's reported.
So it's going to be extremely important for us to have the nominee appear before us, and I will attempt to find out whether we can do that on June 8, 10, or 15, should matters unfold the way we're seeing. We would like to have some time with her, because I would like to have that nomination dealt with in the chamber before the summer, so that we do have a full-time Information Commissioner in place. I think all honourable members will want to respect that opportunity for us to have a full-time rather than an acting Information Commissioner.
So things keep happening, and we only have five meetings after this, and I'm not even sure whether the committee will actually be here on the 22nd. That's up to the government, but we are scheduled to be here on the 22nd.
So those are the items we dealt with at the steering committee. Also at the steering committee, I should report, I consulted with each of the parties as to the options we have with regard to the appearance of ministers in lieu of political staff, and I took their counsel into account as well with regard to how we've handled matters today.
Now, the last item on committee business is... Sorry, on the steering committee report. You have a question on the steering committee report, Ms. Davidson?
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I think you said at the beginning of your report that Minister Nicholson would be coming on the 17th. Did we have a letter from Minister Nicholson?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Yes. This morning I received a letter from Mr. Nicholson saying that he would agree to appear on the 17th.