In other words, although the members of the opposition tell us that they have confidence in us and in the commissioner, they would like to take over our roles. Would it not be more appropriate to wait for the commissioner's report before drawing overly hasty conclusions?
The commissioner has all the powers he needs to request any documents he may deem relevant and to hear all witnesses who might be able to help him reach a decision.
According to the meeting notice, we are here to decide whether we should conduct a study to examine existing measures that could prevent conflicts of interest in federal government expenditure policies.
Madam Chair, I'm sure that you would agree that while it is a laudable and even important mandate, it is very broad.
I would also like to remind my colleagues of the mandate of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.
Standing Order 108 in Chapter XIII of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons provides clarification on this matter. Thus Standing Order 108(3)(h) states that the mandate of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics shall include, among other matters:
(i) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation, together with the operational and expenditure plans relating to the Information Commissioner;
(ii) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation, together with the operational and expenditure plans relating to the Privacy Commissioner;
(iii) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation, together with the operational and expenditure plans relating to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner;
(iv) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation, together with the operational and expenditure plans relating to the Commissioner of Lobbying;
(v) the review of and report on reports of the Privacy Commissioner, the Information Commissioner, the Commissioner of Lobbying and the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner with respect to his or her responsibilities under the Parliament of Canada Act relating to public office holders and on reports tabled pursuant to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, which shall be severally deemed permanently referred to the Committee immediately after they are laid upon the Table;
(vi) in cooperation with other committees, the review of and report on any federal legislation, regulation or Standing Order which impacts upon the access to information or privacy of Canadians or the ethical standards of public office holders;
(vii) the proposing, promoting, monitoring and assessing of initiatives which relate to access to information and privacy across all sectors of Canadian society and to ethical standards relating to public office holders.
If I may paraphrase, the question from—