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.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Michelle Simson Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
So based on what you had, it was fairly quickly that you made the decision that there was nothing you could investigate, based on the Prime Minister's letter, which had no allegations and no request?
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
No, but with the information I did have in that letter, which was that somebody else had some information, we certainly followed up on it.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Michelle Simson Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
And you concluded that there wasn't enough evidence?
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes. We followed up with whatever we had—
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Michelle Simson Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
But that you were going to monitor the press.... I believe I read that you would continue to monitor the press to determine whether that situation would change.
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Well, it was not only the press, but any information I got from anybody.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes. I don't wantonly take on investigations unless I have a reason to do so.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Michelle Simson Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
But again, were you not alarmed by the fact that the RCMP had been contacted as well? Would that not be compelling enough for you at least to start a preliminary investigation?
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
No, I think I have to have some information that goes to whatever the hell the problem was.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Any member of the House can give information to you, even if they don't make a formal request. Is that correct?
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Sure, anybody can give me information. The man on the street can give me information. I get lots of letters from people who are private citizens.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Right. And if that information gives reasonable grounds, you are empowered to commence an examination?
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
That's right, and that's the word: “empowered”, not required.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Right. That's all I was trying to extract earlier on.
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
All right.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
You said you followed up. You said the letter that you received indicated that someone else had some information.
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
My office did.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
And in contacting that other individual, you were not able to extract enough information from him or her to have reasonable grounds for an examination?
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
That's exactly correct.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
All right. Thank you.
I'm now going to turn my attention to your budget. It is indicated here that you are seeking a budget for 2010-11 of $7.1 million?
12:20 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes.
