Evidence of meeting #31 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was lobbyists.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
It's really quite simple. I'm just trying to prevent problems from arising in a selective way.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB
How do you enforce or police the workings of these screens? How do you know that the screens are effective?
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
We rely on the honesty of people and the person who's designated. Usually it's in a deputy minister's office, or a chief of staff, or somebody if it's the minister, or it's somebody who is in the office that's designated as the person to whom everything goes. That person does not let something or other through, if it's under a screen.
If we find out that it has gone through the screen, something has failed in the system, and something has been decided, then they may well have contravened the act. Then I would come in with an investigation and make a report.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes, but then how do I find out about any infraction? I find out when I find out, and I do something about it.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins
We're out of time, Mr. Kelly. We have to move on.
Thank you very much, Madam Commissioner.
Mr. Saini, this is your time. Five minutes, please, sir.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON
Ms. Dawson, thank you very much for coming. I know this is the second or third time that you've come before this committee. Thank you very much, and thank you very much for your service.
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
It's a pleasure.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON
I have two specific questions. One is a personal question. Being a medical professional and entering politics, I'm still obligated to maintain my licence and to do some hours in my pharmacy. I'm wondering, and I don't know if there's anything in the act that allows—
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes, there is.
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
There is. There was a special amendment made about four years ago in relation to a doctor, as a matter of fact, to allow you to at least maintain your professional status, as long as you don't get paid for it.
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
You have no problem maintaining your professional status.
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
Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON
Thank you very much for that.
The second question I have is about something that you had noted in your recommendations, and it's something I don't understand clearly. You talked about language inconsistency between French and English.
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Oh, yes.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON
I was wondering if you could elaborate on that, because I don't understand why there would be an inconsistency.
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
It would be a drafting error in the original legislation. I can't remember exactly which ones they were now, but that goes way back. Occasionally, you'll get a provision, I mean you shouldn't ever, but occasionally we noticed in the process of enforcing the act or the code that the English and the French don't read quite the same.
In those cases, and there weren't very many of them, I've noted, “Why don't you fix the language up if you're going to make some other amendments?” That's all. It's quite technical.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON
Okay. Now that you're at the end of your very successful tenure, what important piece of advice would you give to someone who is now succeeding you? Where do you think the challenges lie? What do you think is the single or most important piece of advice that you would suggest to them? Maybe you didn't have the opportunity to complete something in your own mandate that you would give to them and say, “This is something you think they should look at”.
12:50 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I would say, “Stay the course”. I think we're doing a good job, I'm afraid.