Good afternoon, Mr. Hamilton, sir.
I'll start with finishing the discussion on the rules of professional conduct, which, for some bizarre reason, the chair didn't want the members to hear earlier, probably for partisan reasons.
I stated the general rule. There's further commentary on that point, which states that this rule “must be distinguished from the evidentiary rule” of lawyer and client privilege, which I believe is what the law clerk was referring to, concerning oral or documentary communications “passing between the client and the lawyer”. The ethical rule is “wider and applies without regard to the nature or source of the information or to the fact that others may share the knowledge”. As well, “The lawyer owes a duty of confidentiality to every client without exception, regardless of whether it is a continuing or casual client”. The duty “survives the professional relationship and continues indefinitely after the lawyer has ceased to act for the client, whether or not differences have arisen between them”.
I just think the committee should understand that.
You mentioned earlier that you were familiar with Mr. Snowdy's testimony with respect to the letter sent by the Prime Minister's Office to the Ethics Commissioner, Ms. Dawson.