Evidence of meeting #6 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was documents.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
That's your last question, Mr. Julian.
Mr. Dion, I believe you're going to send that form letter to the clerk.
5:55 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I will if I have legal advice to the effect that doing so would not violate the Conflict of Interest Act provision, of course.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
We understand that.
In your initial remarks, you said, “Therefore, for the purposes of the office’s ongoing examinations, I respectfully ask, Mr. Chair, that you recommend that the House waive the privilege associated with witness testimony before the Standing Committee on Finance in the context of its study on WE Charity and the Canada Student Service Grant.”
I'm kind of in the position of “I don't know what I don't know” that you mentioned earlier. I know how that happens, but I have a question for you myself, and this is what I don't know:
It is public testimony. Can you not use that public testimony?
6 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
The advice that we've shared with the Speaker is that this is covered by parliamentary privilege, and unless the privilege is waived, we cannot use this testimony. We cannot use the transcripts of those who testify before your committee, as well as some other committees.
6 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Even when it's public? That's news to me. In any event, if that's what it is, that's what it is.
For committee members, we'll have to think about this. Here's how we would waive the privilege on committee evidence. First, as a committee, we would have to adopt a report to recommend to the House that it waive its privileges regarding the specific evidence. Second, we would have the report tabled in the House. Third, there would have to be a motion to concur in the report. Somebody would move a motion to concur, and if we concur it in the House, then it would be done and available.
It's a little bit of a complicated process, but that's how we would have to do it. The committee will have to give that some thought. I always thought public evidence was public evidence. I've certainly learned something new today.
With that, we're out of time.
I want to sincerely thank you, Mr. Dion, for coming forward and providing what answers you could within your responsibilities to Parliament. On behalf of the committee, thank you for the work that you do as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. Maybe we don't always seek your advice often enough, but when we seek it, we're a little wiser as MPs—I can tell you that.
6 p.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Thank you very much.
6 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Members of the committee, on Thursday the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada will appear before the committee between 3:30 and 5:00 p.m. I think everyone knows that the Bank of Canada tabled its report on monetary policy on October 28. That should be good information for you. Hopefully, following that, we can have a steering committee meeting.
With that, thank you all.
The meeting is adjourned.