Evidence of meeting #57 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 investigations.
A video is available from Parliament.
May 2nd, 2017 / 4 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
When you consider that the annual reviews happen every year, that is continuous.
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
There are bumps when there's an election. As a matter of fact, we took on several part-timers to deal with that bump. It is not only the people elected but the ministerial offices and everything, and the staff.
I was intrigued to notice a year or two into my mandate that the ministerial staff actually number more than the Governor in Council appointees. They are a very large group.
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Liberal
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Conservative
The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins
You are, Mr. Erskine-Smith. Thank you very much.
We'll now move to the five-minute round, beginning with Mr. Jeneroux, please.
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Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
Perfect. Thank you very much.
Thank you for being here, and your staff as well for preparing for today. A lot of work goes into this.
You're almost finished your term. When does it finish?
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
My appointment ends on July 8.
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Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
You have said you're not seeking another reappointment.
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I haven't applied.
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I've withdrawn. It's a complicated situation, but no, I have said that I was not applying for—
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Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
Okay. I just want to make that clear.
In terms of your resources, you have a number of investigations under way right now. What happens to those investigations once you've finished on July 8?
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
That's a bit of a question. I'm struggling to get as many completed as I can. I've put one out within the last couple of weeks, and my aspiration is to finish the ones that I'm in the middle of.
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Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
Can you give us an idea of how many of those there are?
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes. There are two examinations and one inquiry, and there's one examination on hold, on suspension, because of the requirement. It's still in the legal system. That's in regard to Mr. Carson. That has been suspended for about five years now. The other three are what I have left.
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Conservative
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes, or three really.
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Conservative
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I don't expect that one to be resolved quickly.
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Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
After you leave, there's a new person appointed to your position. Is there a transition period?
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
No.
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Conservative
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
There's no capacity for one.
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Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
Okay, there's no capacity for one.
If you have four investigations under way, I guess there's potential, then, that those have to start from the beginning.
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Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes. I think it's unfortunate.
For example, that investigative report work is similar, in a sense, to the judicial system and the judicial requirements. Most statutes, and some that aren't even judicial that are similar to mine, have a provision in their legislation that allows the individual who started an investigation to complete it.
I do not have that—
