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.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
You're right. And you can come to order whenever you're ready.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
It is a basic act of respect for you to inform somebody of their summons before you run to the media and attack them in that forum.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
With respect, Mr. Poilievre, you're making allegations against the chair. We should be dealing with the motion. I've given you great latitude, but I think you have gone way beyond where we should be.
We have a motion from Mr. Easter that the committee invite the Minister of Natural Resources to appear before the committee. I want to deal with that motion after we dispose of this matter. If it is the committee's wish, we can hear from the minister now.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
To finish my statement, I want the committee to understand that I've spoken to the minister and I've indicated to him that I would make every attempt to let him have an opportunity to be accountable before the committee.
Now, which one of you wanted...?
Conservative
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
It's a procedural matter. I believe Mr. Poilievre had referenced it before you shut off his microphone. I would just like to ask a simple question of you, Chair, since I think it speaks to the essence of committees in general and the proper procedure and proper actions of the chair of a committee.
Did you in fact, Mr. Chair, speak to the media prior to informing Mr. Soudas that he would be summoned?
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Did you speak to the media before you informed Mr. Soudas of the potential of him being summoned?
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
I'm not trying to parse words here, I'm just asking did you go to the media before you went to Mr. Soudas?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Excuse me, Mr. Desnoyers, we are actually on a point of order. We can't have another one.
Mr. Lukiwski...
Bloc
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
No. Order. Just a moment.
I have in writing, from the clerk, that on Monday I signed the summonses at one o'clock, and I got a response from the clerk that the summonses to Ms. Andrews and Mr. Soudas were being delivered that afternoon. And I heard—
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Just a moment.
On Tuesday, the following day, in the evening, a media person asked me whether or not Mr. Soudas was being summoned. It is quoted--it's in the press, as the members know--that I indicated that I issued the summons. I did not receive the bailiff's report till this morning, and I spoke with the clerk about it. My statement was that I signed it. That's the truth: I signed it. There is no...
You will know, as well, Mr. Lukiwski, that the committee authorized the chair to issue those summonses if necessary. After I found out that there were... We called last Thursday to have him appear, with an e-mail. There was no response by the end of the day. We had a second one; there was no response by the end of the day. We waited until Monday, until noon. At noon, there was still no response from either of those requested witnesses. Accordingly, I asked the clerk to prepare the summonses and to bring them to me for signature and for service. That's how it happened, sir.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
I appreciate your explanation. To summarize, you spoke to the media before informing Mr. Soudas.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
I'm asking whether that, in your opinion, sir, is proper procedure for any chair of any standing committee?
