Evidence of meeting #20 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 chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Thank you, Chair.
I just want to say that I'm absolutely confident--
Conservative
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
--about the position of this committee. I, for one, have no doubt about what we're proposing to do. Given the fact that three witnesses have refused our invitations and have refused to honour summonses to appear here, it's perfectly appropriate for us to report that to the House of Commons. I have no need for further legal advice on that because I don't believe there is any question of law that I need to have further information on.
Now, it may well be that the government needs legal advice on the consequences of our action, or that the three individuals--Mr. Togneri, Ms. Andrews, and Mr. Soudas--may need independent legal advice on the consequences of their action, but I don't need any further advice, given what we're going to do, which is simply, and it's as plain as the nose on our face, to report that these three individuals refused our invitation, refused to appear, and even when they were summoned they refused to appear.
Chair, I hope there will be consequences, but it's not my job to determine that. The House will determine that after we report what actually took place, the facts of the situation. That's the House's job, not mine. I don't need to be advised on those consequences in this context.
Thank you, Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Thank you.
We've now heard from every member around the table, so I'm going to put the question now on the Freeman motion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
We're getting repetition here. The chair has heard all of the arguments--
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
No, the chair is calling the question. I have decided that we've heard enough and we've had enough debate, and I want the question put now.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
The chair will attempt to have Mr. Walsh appear next Tuesday. We are now back on our agenda.
We have had a bit of a discussion on this template. Mr. Siksay had an editorial change.
As we understand, because of the other Freeman motion that was passed, we could continue to consider the content of this. Should Mr. Soudas or Madam Andrews appear on Tuesday, this report would have to be updated to reflect that. Should either not appear on Tuesday, then the motion of Madam Freeman is moot in that they did not appear and we would go forward with this, so nothing would change.
On the commenting on the template that has been proposed, which is the factual summary of what has transpired to date, I had on the list to speak to this: Mr. Poilievre, Mr. Easter, Mr. Baird, Madam Davidson, Mr. Siksay, and Madam Freeman. That's the list when we left this to go to those other motions.
Mr. Hoback, you had a point of order.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Yes, please, Mr. Chair.
I was listening to you about next Tuesday. How much time is going to be allocated to Mr. Walsh? The whole meeting?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
That is up to the committee. I will invite him to be our first order of business so that the committee will have the benefit of what he tells us, and then we can consider this report or any other report to the House and instruct the chair whether or not the committee authorizes the chair to table it in the House, either on Wednesday or Thursday.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
So I'll confirm that he'll be the priority for the committee on Tuesday?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
We have to start with...because the member wanted to hear so that she could make a good decision with regard to the main motion.
Liberal
Conservative
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
No. It is a document that was drafted by the clerk to give us an idea of a template. This hasn't been moved by anybody, and since we don't have a motion to adopt this—
