Evidence of meeting #6 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was convention.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Mr. Mayrand, we've heard a number of salacious accusations by my colleague across the way. Of course, it's unfortunate when the light is shone in your own backyard that you have to throw a smokescreen and get angry, as opposed to just being forthcoming.
Has the NDP been forthcoming regarding the 2011 convention? Has it, in fact, presented Elections Canada with the total it received from the large trade unions? We've got the photo of the billboard that says “Thank You to Our Sponsors”. Has the NDP, in fact, indicated to you how much it received? It hasn't indicated to the Canadian people how much it received. We know we had three significant trade unions speak in Le Devoir and indicate that they wrote very large cheques to the NDP. Has it been forthcoming to you, to Elections Canada, on exactly how much it received?
Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
Again, they are under no duty to report on their financial transactions until July next year.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Right. They're under no duty, but we've called upon them to be transparent. They haven't done so.
NDP
The Chair NDP Jean Crowder
Mr. Del Mastro, you've used up your time.
I want to thank you very much for coming before the committee, Mr. Mayrand. I just want to turn back to the committee.
We have some committee business to deal with. Do you want to deal with it in public or in camera?
NDP
The Chair NDP Jean Crowder
We have a number of pieces of committee business. I'll start with the easy pieces. I have a couple of reminders for the committee. One is that the International Conference of Information Commissioners is currently under way, and all members of the committee are invited.
I'm just going to turn to Dara to say a few words about it.
Dara Lithwick Committee Researcher
Hi. On behalf of the committee, I am attending the conference right now. I'll be going there after our meeting this morning. Again, members of the committee are invited to attend. It's definitely open to all members of the committee. There are well over 200 delegates at the conference from all over Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, etc. There are multiple sessions going on, on all aspects of access to information, developments, and that sort of thing. Actually, it's quite interesting. It's not just lawyer-speak and that sort of thing. It's a great conference. That's about it.
Thank you.
NDP
The Chair NDP Jean Crowder
Great. Thanks.
The second piece is--and I believe the committee has already agreed to this--that there's a luncheon with the delegation of international commissioners Thursday at noon in the Commonwealth Room. That's just a reminder for you. I'm sure you've got the information in your offices.
The next piece of committee business is the request for the budget. I think you've got approval for the budget and the budget before you. I have a motion here that I would look for somebody to move: that the proposed budget in the amount of $15,600, in relation to the study on the access to information dispute and the resulting court actions concerning the CBC, be adopted as presented.
Is it moved, Mr. Del Mastro?
NDP
The Chair NDP Jean Crowder
Seconded, Mr. Angus?
Are there any questions on that?
All in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
The final piece of business, and there is a question for the committee on this, is the witness list for the study. The question for the committee--this is a working document for the committee--is whether or not the committee wants this witness list released or whether you want to keep it as a working document for the committee. That's one question, and the second question is comments on the witness list.
Mr. Del Mastro.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I personally have no objection to the witness list being released. It should be updated with any organizations or individuals who have in fact not elected to accept the invitation to appear before our committee.
Madam Chair, I would make members of the committee aware that I sent a draft to the clerk of the committee last week requesting that the clerk of the committee research and present, in both official languages, the ruling from Justice Boivin, to be presented to the committee as evidence in this study.
I would also move to strike Justice Boivin from the witness list.
NDP
The Chair NDP Jean Crowder
Just as a point of clarification, Mr. Del Mastro, did I understand you to say that you wanted this list to also reflect witnesses who declined or refused to attend?
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
No. I would simply say that it be updated to remove names of those who have declined, so that it only lists individuals or interested parties who will be appearing.
NDP
The Chair NDP Jean Crowder
My understanding is that this is what this list is, a list of people who are able to attend.
I am going to ask the clerk to give us some more information.
The Clerk
Thank you, Madam Chair.
The calendar as circulated lists the witnesses I have been able to confirm. The calendar was circulated to members.
The witnesses who have declined the invitation have been omitted. Basically, members can make the deduction: the people who aren't on the calendar have all declined. That's where I am with that.
The ones who haven't been confirmed are still on the calendar, but there is no “confirmed” shown beside the name. That's the only difference.
NDP
The Chair NDP Jean Crowder
Are there any other questions about the witness list?
We have a motion to strike Mr. Justice Boivin from the list. He has declined, but you can certainly present that motion.
Did you present a motion?
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
He has declined and already been stricken from the list?
That's fine. Thank you.
Liberal
Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL
I have a comment on that. I'm glad to see that Mr. Del Mastro has been directed to strike Justice Boivin's name from the list. It was ridiculous that having a justice come before the committee was put forward in the first place. I'm pleased to see that he has come to his senses on that.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I encourage Mr. Andrews to review the decision rendered by Speaker Milliken in the previous Parliament. He may find it ridiculous that members of Parliament might wish to seek answers to questions, but Speaker Milliken clearly ruled that members of Parliament are in fact entitled to request and seek such information.
It's of importance to this committee to note that not a single witness for this study is in fact compelled to appear. They're appearing because they have chosen to appear. That said, Justice Boivin's decision in regard to the matter at hand will most certainly be included as evidence in this study.
