Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to both of our witnesses for being here this morning.
I would like to acknowledge your work, Ms. Maynard. You've been before this committee a number of times. When spring arrives in Ottawa, the tulips bloom and you come back to tell us about your work.
There is one word that somewhat bothers me. I was pleased to hear you talk about the independence of your work. In the spring, we learn all kinds of things. On January 23, a letter from the Clerk of the Privy Council was sent to your office. In this letter, which is not long, Janice Charette is asking you, on behalf of the Privy Council Office and pursuant to subsection 6.1(1) of the Access to Information Act, for your authorization not to proceed with certain requests, because the Office is of the opinion that these requests are frivolous. The clerk explains that the individual who made these requests is essentially abuses the right of access and it interferes with the office's operations. Personally, I know that the applicant in question works for a national francophone media outlet.
What bothers me is that you talk about independence, but the Privy Council sends you a letter asking you to authorize it to refuse to examine or work on an access to information request. Is that common?