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.
12:30 p.m.
Bloc
Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Very well. I withdraw that statement.
Is it possible that we were mislead...
12:30 p.m.
Conservative
12:30 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
The questioner is asking the witness to comment and render judgment on other comments that she does not have in front of her. That is an entirely unfair demand to make of the witness. She is providing us with information that she has, not commentary on House of Commons debate.
12:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Thank you. I understand the point.
Our practice has always been that the committee will not decide what the witness will answer or not answer. The witness is very aware of what they can or cannot say, and it's up to Ms. Dawson to determine whether she can respond to the question.
12:30 p.m.
Bloc
Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
I will ask my question differently. Were documents forwarded to you by the Prime Minister's Office, yes or no?
12:30 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I have one letter that I received from the Prime Minister.
12:30 p.m.
Bloc
Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
There is mention of “documents“, in the plural. You are confirming that you do not have these documents?
12:30 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
It does not relate to the matter you're concerned about.
12:30 p.m.
Bloc
Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Very well.
He indicated that the Prime Minister apprised you of these allegations and that he himself forwarded them to you. You are confirming that such is not the case.
12:30 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I can't remember if the word “allegations” was used, but there was reference to there being a matter of serious concern, and that if I wanted to find out more about it I could contact a certain individual.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Thank you, Chair.
Madam Dawson, is it often when things land on your desk without a formal request that you look into them?
12:30 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
It's not infrequent.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Is it unusual that you would have something like that from the Prime Minister's Office?
12:30 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
It's quite unusual.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Is it possible that you could table the letter that you received from the Prime Minister with the committee?
12:30 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I'm not sure.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Could you check into that to see if that's possible? It seems it's quite important that we understand exactly what the Prime Minister wrote to you, although I think you've explained it quite clearly. It doesn't sound like there's much more or that it was a very long letter, and it wasn't making a specific request of you.
12:30 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I'll see what I can do there. I'm not sure.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
With regard to the question of your ability to investigate when the RCMP is investigating, do you know at this point whether the RCMP is indeed investigating?
12:30 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
No, I don't know.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
How would you find out if the RCMP were investigating something?
12:30 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I don't think they'd tell me. I don't know.
12:30 p.m.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
So normally in a situation like this you would proceed until....