Evidence of meeting #113 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was office.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Have you done that in the past?
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
I've done it six times.
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Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Do you know what the outcomes of those six referrals were?
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
I have never been aware of an investigation.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
We've seen key players in the $60-million arrive scam lie to parliamentary committees. We know that the House found one witness, one individual, to be in contempt for prevaricating and refusing to answer questions.
Are the witnesses that you interview sworn in? Do they take an oath before you take testimony from them?
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
We can ask them to. They have to be sworn in, in an affidavit.
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Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Anyone who swears an oath can be charged with perjury, which carries a penalty of up to 14 years in jail. It's an indictable offence. Is testimony to you protected by the same type of privilege that people who testify at parliamentary committees enjoy?
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
I don't believe so.
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Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
The cases that you refer to the Attorney General, to the Crown, could be referred to a prosecutor for charges of perjury, as an example. That potential exists.
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
That would be in the purview of the Attorney General's decision, yes.
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Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
For the half-dozen, could you tell us over what period of time you've made referrals?
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
Over the last four years, the Office of the Information Commissioner has referred six cases.
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Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Are the details or the specific cases that you referred a matter of public record?
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
No.
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Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Is it confidential?
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
You can access it through the Access to Information Act.
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Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Would one need to file an ATIP with your office to get that?
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
I believe that if you do an informal request, we probably can provide you some information on those cases.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Ms. Maynard, would you be willing to provide that information to the committee?
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
I would.
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Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Thank you very much.
Who else would be subject to your investigation? We're talking about with respect to ArriveCAN. Are you able to share with us what your scope would be, or are those details that you're unable to share?
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
I cannot. Yes.
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Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Have you so far seen co-operation from the entities or individuals you've contacted in this investigation?
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Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
I cannot confirm.
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Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Are you able to share with us the anticipated or target completion for your work? Is that something that you forecast?