Evidence of meeting #138 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 review.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
In your annual report, you state that you'd like to see “an overhaul” of the access to information system and that “legislative changes” are needed to “meet the needs of the 21st century.” You also note that amendments to the Access to Information Act are unlikely to be proposed until 2025.
In what main respects should the Access to Information Act be modernized?
Information Commissioner, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
As Nancy said, there's a lot to be changed, but definitely, as I've testified before, we need an act that will make cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister's Office subject to the Access to Information Act. We need cabinet confidence to be subjected to the act. We need an independent mechanism for financing. The list is very long. We need an overall review of exemptions and exclusions. We need a public interest override, which is one act that we don't have in Canada compared to other jurisdictions.
As I said earlier, I will use these seven years of experience that I've had to submit better, longer and more supported submissions in 2025 when the act is reviewed, if I have the chance to be renewed in my position.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Not to pre-empt anybody, but it's looking like that's going to be the case.
I just want to thank both of you for being here today. Certainly, you have your work cut out for you in this respect. I do hope, at least from our NDP position, that we find these independent processes for funding that are non-politicized and not relying on cabinet, because we also agree that you are agents of Parliament and not of any one minister.
Thanks again for being here.
Those are my questions.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Thank you, Mr. Green.
I do have a question for Madame Bélanger.
Earlier in your testimony, you said that there are 9,000 registered lobbyists right now. You said, if I recall, “There are a lot of them”. In the seven years you've been here, since the start.... What was the number of registered lobbyists seven years ago?
November 5th, 2024 / 6:05 p.m.
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
The average, from active registered, was about 5,700. Now the average is 7,400, so that's about 2,000 more. Our peak has been 9,000 at any one time. Lobbyists go in and out. We've had peaks of 9,000. They've risen by about 2,000.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Would it be safe to say that it's like a 40% increase in the number of lobbyists, roughly?
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
Yes, and it's about the same for the number of active registrations.
Monthly communication reports—these oral, arranged in advance communications—were 23,000 in 2017. Now we're at 34,000. Everything has increased.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Okay.
On behalf of the committee, as chair of a committee that provides oversight on access to information and lobbying, I want to thank you both for the work that you've done. I've been chairing this committee now for over two years. You've been in front of this committee several times within that time, and you've been forthright in the information you have provided, despite the sense of frustration that I get when you appear. Notwithstanding that, you plow through and you provide not just this committee and Parliament, but all Canadians with valuable information in the work that you do.
As chair of this committee, I have the utmost confidence in your reappointment and your ability to continue to do your work for the next seven years. Again, that's one voice.
I will turn to Mr. Fisher now to move the appropriate motion to report to the House that the committee has confidence in your appointment. We will open it up for debate. I suspect that there will be none, but that's up to the committee members. Then, I will stand and report positively how this committee feels about your appointment.
Mr. Fisher, go ahead.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thanks again to both our witnesses.
I move:
That the committee has considered the proposed appointment of Caroline Maynard as Information Commissioner of Canada and reports its support for her appointment to the House.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
The motion has been moved.
Is there any discussion?
(Motion agreed to)
Thank you.
Go ahead with the second motion, please.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
I move:
That the committee has considered the proposed appointment of Nancy Bélanger as Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada and reports its support for her appointment to the House.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Thank you, Mr. Fisher.
The motion has been moved.
Is there any other discussion on that?
(Motion agreed to)
Thank you for moving that, Mr. Fisher.
Again, thank you for being in front of the committee today and for providing us with the information that you did. We continue to wish you the best of luck.
I want to thank your staff as well. I know that both of you have acknowledged and recognized the work that your staff do. It's tough work, and we appreciate it.
Thank you so much.
This meeting is now adjourned.