The purpose of this motion is, indeed, to give us the parameters within which to deal with the request that was adopted yesterday for the documents. In fact, it is in the spirit of remarks that were made by our regular permanent member from the NDP when we adopted the Standing Orders, particularly the addition to the standing order that stipulated that any motion to go in camera should be debatable and amendable and that the committee may only meet in camera for the following purposes:
(a) to discuss administrative matters of the committee and witness selection (b) examine draft reports (c) briefings concerning national security and; (d) to discuss matters involving an individual's private information; and furthermore, minutes of in camera meetings should reflect on the results of all votes taken by the committee with the exception of votes regarding the consideration of draft report; including how each member voted when a recorded vote is requested.
I have here some of Mr. Angus's remarks from that meeting of February 19, 2020, wherein he says:
I think the intention of my colleague is fair. I think we have to trust each other that we're not going to abuse that. I'm fair with the language; I think there's an understanding here. We do not want to damage someone who has not done anything wrong but there may be information, so I think it's just fair. I'm willing to accept it. I don't think we can anticipate all the ways in which it will be used, and the language may get harder and harder, so I would agree with that. Also, I certainly think the amendment...is excellent.
I think it's in that spirit, and I certainly have seen with other committees that I participate in that the actual consultation on documents and so on is done in that way. Perhaps with the chair's permission, the clerk could speak to us about some of the ways in which the privacy of sensitive documents is safeguarded. I think that's what the motion is stipulating, so that it's very clear. Things have happened in the past, and that's part of the reason I am looking forward to having a briefing by the law clerk on what our duty of care is here, what we can and can't do. I don't think any member here wants to be treating sensitive information in a way that is harmful.
I wonder if my colleague would agree that our request for the documents—and I will ask the clerk for the email to see what the distribution looks like—should not go out if this is not resolved by the time the documents have been received by the clerk. I think we need to have clarity on how to handle these documents. Is this something that my colleague from the NDP party would agree to?
I'm sorry if I mixed up Green and NDP. I tend to do that with your name. Does that happen to you, Mr. Green, that we say you are from the Green Party?