Evidence of meeting #9 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 code.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:45 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
No. They have to establish what section they think has been contravened.
As I say, any information that I get, I don't ignore. So if I think of something that might be a problem under some other section they haven't thought of, that might be one way I would self-initiate or add to the body of what I was investigating.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
Does the code currently provide you with enough time to complete your duties?
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
It doesn't have a deadline.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
I thought perhaps you had 30 days to hear back, and then within 15 days you needed to....
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
It's interesting. It used to be 10 days and it's just been moved up to 15 days because it was really pretty tight. It's what I have. I have to take a decision after that.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
You stated in your opening remarks that in recent months you have been involved in a number of investigations, each one of which must be given due process, and some of which have been quite complex.
Do you have any concerns about your workload right now in your department?
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
As I said, we're coping. It's been quite heavy. When we get a lot of investigations, other things we would like to be doing--like putting more stuff up on our website--fall by the wayside to some extent. We'll pick that up if and when the volume of investigations is reduced. If this is chronic for a number of years, maybe we will come back for more resources.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
You also noted in your opening remarks some of the really good things you're doing in taking a new coordination role in the Canadian Conflict of Interest Network, and also involvement with the U.S.-based Council on Governmental Ethics Laws, COGEL. I wonder if you would like to highlight for the committee any challenges you are facing in your work as the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I think the biggest challenge our office has is responding to questions about what we're doing, because so much of it is confidential. One of the biggest challenges is satisfying people that we really are investigating what we ought to be investigating; that we're doing a good job and working hard.
There are a lot of people who like to criticize, but the fact is these are people's lives we're dealing with. They should be kept confidential where they ought to be kept confidential. In due course, reports will come out and what we have to say will be said. We're not a kangaroo court. We do these things carefully and deliberately, and hope we do a good job. But that's the biggest challenge.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Thank you, Ms. Dawson. We have to terminate this meeting at one o'clock. We have the votes to take. We finished a complete round, so I'm not going to move on to another one.
I would like to ask about the letter, since Mr. Siksay raised it. You had indicated that the Prime Minister did not sign it; it was sent by his office.
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
It basically said, “Here's some information. If you want more information there are a couple of people you can contact.” But it didn't detail the allegations themselves.
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
No.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Okay. I suspect the committee would probably like to have a copy of the letter. If that's not possible for a specific reason, maybe you could advise us of the reason. But still provide us with what information in the letter you can confirm to us the best you can. I understand you have rules to follow.
Colleagues, I think we've had a robust conversation about the estimates, and I now have to put the vote.
Shall vote 15 under Parliament, less amounts voted in interim supply, carry?
PARLIAMENT Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Vote 15--Program expenditures..........$6,338,000
(Vote 15 agreed to)
Shall I report the estimates to the House?
12:50 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.