This government seems to have a penchant for secrecy and a desire to attack anybody who challenges them. We've seen that with independent officers of Parliament, right from Linda Keen on down. We certainly believe that any such investigation should go right to the minister's desk and not stop at the deputy minister. We'll put that on the record.
The second area of questions is related to a Globe and Mail story on August 20 about voters lists being made available to others. It was reported that a Brian Patterson made some comments about providing voters lists beyond where they really should be provided now. Brian Patterson--here's just a little bit of background--chaired Tony Clement's federal and provincial leadership campaigns and was the manager for election day for Mr. Clement when he was minister, so he's well connected.
He was asked by a municipal candidate about how to obtain federal voters lists, which the Conservatives manage with a program called CIMS, or constituency information management system. He said:
But if someone gives you a copy of CIMS in your local campaign, we can't stop you from calling up your local guys that you work [with] on the executives of [riding associations] if you can get it off them. You know, “Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil”. “...you never heard me say this--and I'll deny it in a room full of lawyers--that if you can somehow get it, you know, we don't care”.
The Canada Elections Act specifically states that it prohibits sharing voters lists with anyone other than MPs, registered political parties, and federal candidates. Do those kinds of comments from Mr. Patterson concern you--that he may have found a way of...? You know, the lists should just get out there, and they're given to others--other than who they should be.