Information & Ethics Committee on June 8th, 2010

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

We have four people on the list: Mr. Easter, Madam Freeman, Mr. Siksay, and Madam Davidson.

Please, Mr. Easter.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and welcome, Commissioner.

Basically, I'd just like to congratulate you on your nomination. I do think it's a very good one. I think it's somewhat unique that you have been interim commissioner, and that a number of us have met with you and you've been before this committee and that we do have your report here. I think, as you state in your remarks, you have tried to do the best job you can in that capacity and to represent all Canadians in making access to information work.

I guess as you can see from the previous rather raucous discussion here, there are lots of areas surrounding access to information that you perhaps don't have control over.

I don't have any questions. I've looked at the report, and we can see that some departments are improving and some are falling back a little. But with respect to your work, I think you've been doing an excellent job. So I congratulate you on that.

Mr. Chair, at the appropriate time, I'd certainly be willing to move a motion so that you can report to the House this committee's support for this appointment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Madam Freeman, please.

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

I would like to congratulate you, Ms. Legault. As I have already said previously, I admire you for the remarkable work you are doing. You have proven to be audacious, and your determination should inspire many of us. I am therefore pleased to welcome your appointment. I think that we should present a motion to the House stating that we support your appointment. I and the other members of the Bloc Québécois support your appointment.

Can we ask questions on the annual report?

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

That will come later.

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Later?

What matters now is that you be confirmed—

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

This is only the nomination.

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Okay, very well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Mr. Siksay, please.

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

I'm glad we have finally reached this point, Commissioner. It's taken a while, but I think all of us are relieved that we've reached this point with your nomination going forward. I want to thank you for your work, and I look forward to continuing to work with you.

I will ask you a question, though, just for fun. I wonder if you could say something about how you understand the change from being acting commissioner to commissioner, and will this change the way you do your job? What does this change mean for you in that position?

[Suzanne Legault]

Well, as I have said from the beginning, I have conducted myself as if I were permanently holding the position. So in terms of all of the investigative work we've done, that's definitely how I've conducted myself.

The difference between an interim position and a long-term position is that the latter provides tremendous stability for the office and my employees, and I think that's going to make a huge difference for the atmosphere in our office, which I think is nothing but positive.

We started a strategic planning exercise last month, and I did it for myself or the next commissioner, because I wanted to have the pulse of the organization, which has grown and basically doubled in size. I plan to engage in and continue this strategic planning exercise with various stakeholders, because now that I have a seven-year mandate, there is an incredible realm of possibilities, which is different from fixing short-term problems. That is the main difference for me.

I will start engaging with stakeholders in the next few months to plan the vision for the organization, and to get buy-in for that vision as well.

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

You've mentioned a lot of practical things. What's the most creative thing on your agenda?

[Suzanne Legault]

The most creative thing on my agenda, seriously, really does remain the investigative function at this point. We still have 2,000 files that we now have to tackle. We've tackled very well the short-term, more administrative matters. We're working on those, but the area that we really have to tackle now is the complex cases and how quickly we can get those through. Really, that goes to the core of delays in access to information. So that's why I say it remains my first and foremost priority.

On the broader issues of access to information, I think the main difference I bring to the table, and where, I guess, my impatience lies and has lain in the last few years, is that we've heard of the same problems for 27 years now in access to information. I want to start fixing those problems, and I am known as a fixer in my career. I've usually had the files that nobody could resolve.

So my plan is to tackle each single issue, both administratively and hopefully in the longer term legislatively, and to work with all of the partners to find those solutions. I'm quite hopeful, actually.

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Ms. Davidson, please.

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.

My congratulations on the nomination as well, Madame Legault. Certainly there's great pleasure in hearing that from this side of the table as well. I think we around the table are unanimous in that.

I was going to ask you if there was anything further in your qualifications that you knew about but maybe we didn't know about through the formal process. I think you've just answered that. You're known as the fixer. I think that's great. That's a good qualification.

I was pleased when in your opening remarks you talked about collaboration, about how you were able to take a firm hand when required, and about your proactive and integrated approach. I know that you've articulated your three-year plan and that you've worked very hard at getting the numbers resolved as far as the backlog goes. So I commend you on what you've done, and I certainly look forward to working with you in the future. Again, congratulations on the nomination.

[Suzanne Legault]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

We've had an informal agreement that we would have representation from each of the parties, but the chair will use the chair's discretion to say this. Madame Legault, I have been very impressed by how you stepped into a difficult situation and helped us carve a path in the right direction. When you started you said, “I will do this job as if it were my full-time job.” You had me right then.

Thank you.

I think Mr. Easter has something to say.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Well, this is just to move the motion that the committee has considered the proposed appointment of Suzanne Legault as Information Commissioner of Canada and it supports her appointment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Members are familiar with the question. Shall I put the question? All those in favour?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Wow. Sounds like it's unanimous to me.

Shall the chair report our support to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

[Applause]

We have about 15 minutes left in our time slot for this meeting.

Would you like to have any of your other colleagues join you at the table, in case there are any further questions regarding the next item on our agenda, which is finalizing our consideration of your annual report? It's up to you.

[Suzanne Legault]

I think I'm okay.