Thanks, Mr. Chair.
The committee has twice asked for these documents. In the first instance, the committee was not furnished with them in a timely fashion. The version we received was a redacted version. We know it was prepared in both official languages, so it would have been one the department could have sent to us.
The availability of a minister to testify at the committee.... Though I would like a minister to attend when it best suits the committee, we heard the parliamentary secretary in the House today say that the minister is attending the committee on Monday. This document production was requested weeks ago, and now the availability of the minister is such that he's appearing at our next meeting. We haven't had the opportunity to get the documents in the format they were ordered in.
The committee has a lot of options when its powers are disregarded. This motion is not one that exaggerates the necessary response. I appreciate hearing from the chair that although the committee set a deadline for the department, he used his discretion to offer an extended deadline. It is regrettable that this deadline was not met.
The motion before committee provides the respondent for the department with, again, an extended deadline. Should they not furnish the committee with the document in an unredacted fashion, as was ordered, the committee has then exhausted its powers. It then becomes a matter for the House. The proposal on how this is referred to the House is not inflammatory or hyperbolic; it simply allows the House the opportunity to discharge its powers. It's very important that when the House of Commons standing committees order the production of papers or the appearance of people, and this is disrespected, it is important this be upheld. That's why this is proposed in this way.
The redactions in the document don't appear to simply be seven-digit phone numbers or first and last names. There appear to be redactions that go beyond that. I don't know the extent of commercially sensitive information that could be contained in the large sections that are redacted, but the committee issued its order. I think it is important that the committee have the full information available to it before having the minister and his officials attend the committee on Monday.
That's the spirit in which this motion was put forward. I hope we can have resolution to it quickly.
Thanks.