Evidence of meeting #20 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 rcmp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pat Kelly
Yes, there are tools. We may deal with it by receiving it in camera. We can also refer to the law clerk.
Go ahead, Ms. Khalid.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON
Thanks, Chair.
Chair, very respectfully to all members on this committee, I would really like to set the terms clearly before we move to a vote on anything. It's been noted in the past, when things have not been clear, that we've seen actions happen to the detriment of members and to the public as well.
Can we please set out clear terms for how we are going to be reviewing these documents and how these documents will be received before we go to a vote?
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pat Kelly
Again, I'll respond from the chair just to point out that it's up to members of the committee to propose anything. If there's an amendment to be proposed, someone must propose it. Otherwise I'm going to go to the vote on the main motion.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON
I believe Mr. Green suggested something. I'm wondering if he could just suggest it again, if that's okay, and maybe we can fold that into the main motion.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Look, I'm comfortable moving that we receive the documents in camera. We also, as a committee, have the right, once we review them, to disclose them publicly if we feel that's the will of the committee. However, for the initial onset, I'm certainly willing to move a motion that we receive the documents in camera. I certainly look forward to the government side, having considered this amendment, supporting the main motion.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pat Kelly
You'd have to phrase that in the form of an amendment, because I can't entertain a new motion until this motion is disposed of.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Mr. Chair, I move that the documents that have been requested be received at an in camera meeting, pursuant to the appropriate standing orders.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pat Kelly
Okay.
Mr. Green, just on one point there, the documents will be received by email or as a physical copy. They won't be received in a meeting. Your amendment perhaps would be that they be reviewed or debated or discussed in camera.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
My apologies. Thank you for that clarification, Mr. Chair. Yes, it's for the consideration of this committee to decide whether we want to move forward in an in camera capacity, given the sensitivities, or in a public forum, given the public interest.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pat Kelly
That is now the amendment to the motion that we will now debate.
Go ahead, Ms. Khalid.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON
Thanks, Chair. Just for further clarification, who exactly would receive these documents? Would it be just members of the committee? Would staff have access to them? Would House personnel have access to them?
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pat Kelly
Well, they are received by the clerk. The clerk is the one who communicates and receives documents on behalf of the committee. I don't know how else to answer that.
Go ahead, Ms. Saks.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to just give a suggestion based on my previous experience dealing with the arms export documents over at the Department of Foreign Affairs. The classified documents were provided with an access code for committee members only. There is a particular way of doing in online. Staff did not have access to them. It was only the members of the committee who could take them under review.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pat Kelly
I'm certain that our clerk could take reasonable steps to ensure the security.
We will vote on the amendment.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
All those in favour of the main motion?
(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Bells are not ringing yet. We still have our witnesses. We do not have time to complete a full round. I think that perhaps at this point, unless there are objections, I'll release our witnesses and conclude the meeting.
Are there any objections by anybody who's dying to get an extra question in? No.
That being the case, my thanks to our witnesses, Mr. Sage, Mr. Boileau, Mr. Stairs and Mr. Séguin. Thank you very much for appearing today.
With that, the meeting is adjourned.