Thank you.
Thank you to the witnesses for proceeding with their statements.
I suspect that all of you know that at the presentation by the member whose bill this is, Ms. Guarnieri, substantial amendments were proposed. This no longer will have anything to do with salary caps. So that's off the table. This bill ultimately melts down to a disclosure of salaries of persons who have salaries in excess of $100,000.
Most of you mentioned privacy. Being the former chair of the access to information, privacy, and ethics committee, until about three months ago, I'd like to just read a little segment out of this.
The act stipulates that “no personal information shall be collected by a government institution unless it relates directly to an operating program or activity of the institution”. As well, whenever possible, the information should be collected “directly from the individual to whom it relates”, and the individual should be informed of the purpose for which it is being collected.
There's a technical note, as well.
The bottom line is that this does not violate privacy, although many of you said that it's a breach of privacy. I wonder if any of you have any reference or information related to the Privacy Act or to PIPEDA that would indicate that the disclosures made would violate privacy. Is there any one of you?
Okay. Thank you.
With regard to transparency, which is ultimately what this bill has become about, as you know, those who give charitable donations receive a tax benefit that's paid for by all taxpayers, by Canadians. That is our contribution. Therefore, because it's an expenditure of the Government of Canada, it is subject to transparency. To disclose what taxpayers' money is used for, given the related benefit given to whomever and the benefit given to those who use that money for purposes under their registration, requires transparency.
Does any one of you disagree with any of that?
Mr. Pineau.