Information & Ethics Committee on Feb. 25th, 2014

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

The mere fact that you know about it clearly shows that it was disclosed. It's clear. The whole point of my bill is transparency. You just proved my point, that transparency is a good thing.

Mr. Andrews, I'm expected as a politician, as you are, to be partisan. There's nothing wrong with that. Never once did I say, contrary to what you said that partisan activity is a bad thing—

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

No, sir. No. No, sir.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

I'm not making any judgment here. This is just the fact that people who work in these agencies merely put any past partisan activity on a public website for all to see. This bill doesn't judge anyone. It just makes it open and transparent.

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

You didn't put that on your campaign material or on your website when you were running for office.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Andrews, I'm here to talk about my private member's bill, and—

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

I'm just trying to get my head around past partisanship and involvement with an agent of Parliament, free of political influence. Has your past partisanship now freed you of any political influences? Do your colleagues in your party think that you're free of Liberal influence now?

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Andrews, about my past, I'm happy to discuss that with you outside of committee, but I'm here to talk about Bill C-520, my private member's bill. If you want to talk about my past political affiliations and my experiences, I'm happy to talk to you about that outside of committee.

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Mr. Adler, as an agent of Parliament yourself as a member of Parliament, after you get elected, I think we all strive to a position where we try to act as a non-partisan. We try to not let our partisan activity influence us when we're helping our constituents and that kind of thing. Don't you try to raise yourself above that bar after you're elected?

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Andrews, clearly this bill talks about the nine agencies, the exceptional agencies that have to do with reporting to Parliament, not members—

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Members of Parliament are exceptional, too. They are elected by people not from their own parties—

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Yes, but they're not covered by this bill.

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

I'm trying to make the analogy between an agent of Parliament—

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

What I'm here to talk about are the nine agencies of Parliament—

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Order, order. One at a time.

If you want to pose your question, Mr. Andrews, then we'll give Mr. Adler time to answer it.

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

What's the difference between a member of Parliament being non-partisan after he's elected and an agent of Parliament after he's appointed being non-partisan?

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

The difference is that I'm here to talk about Bill C-520 and the nine enumerated agencies that report to Parliament. As I said, I'm happy to have a discussion with you offline at any time about my personal life. That's fine. But I'm here to talk about the—

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

You want to know about the personal lives of these agents of Parliament, though.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Andrews, the people in these agencies have a very exceptional role in our parliamentary system. They swear an oath. The expectation is that they be non-partisan—

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Isn't that enough? They swore an oath.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

What this does.... I can't understand why anybody would be against more transparency. Transparency is a good thing.

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

These agents of Parliament are coming before our committee. Do you think that's a good idea to have them come before our committee to address this as well and get an understanding?

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

I'm sorry. Would you repeat that, please?

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

I said that these agents of Parliament are going to appear before this committee. Do you think they have something to add to the discussion on your bill?

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

I don't know. You'll have to ask them and wait for them to appear before the committee.

[Scott Andrews, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

But do you think it's a good idea to be fair—