Government Operations Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Okay.

Honestly, when I think of this kind of user fee that is used to prevent abuse, I think we have to be careful. When parliamentarians or journalists make a request, I remind you that public funds are being spent. I'm an entrepreneur. My business is my money. However, we're talking about taxpayers' money here. I am a bit uncomfortable with putting a price on democracy. Control over information is a huge power.

Thank you so much for the work you do. It can't always be easy, because there must be times when you're extremely busy processing requests.

If there's anything you didn't have time to address in response to a question, I'd like to give you the few seconds we have left to do so.

[Caroline Maynard]

To go back to what you just said, it's important to understand and remember that government information is Canadians' information. That's why I think we have to continue to fight for this information to be provided free of charge as much as possible and without having to go through several steps.

Proactive and improved disclosure would benefit everyone, and it would improve the access to information system, democracy and people's trust.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Yes, it would be beneficial.

Mr. Chair, can we take action to restore people's trust?

With that, I'll close. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thank you very much.

Before you go, thank you for being with us again. I sincerely appreciate all your work.

Don't leave just yet. I have a couple of questions for you, if you don't mind.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie South—Innisfil, ON]

They're McCauley questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Yes, they're McCauley questions.

One is on your testimony today. Did I hear correctly that about one-third of ATIPs to the PCO result in a complaint?

[Caroline Maynard]

Based on the statistics for 2024-25, there were about 700 access requests, and we do have approximately 225 complaints in our inventory. They're the highest.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

What is it about the Prime Minister's own department that leads to so many complaints?

I know that we actually, on an issue in public accounts, filed a complaint against them for destroying documents. What is it specifically about that department, the Prime Minister's department, that leads to so many refusals to hand over information?

[Caroline Maynard]

It is mainly due to those historical documents. They are still under the control of the PCO, which creates extremely long delays in review.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I want to ask a selfish question from my own office.

We are one of the people referred to as “frequent flyers”. I think we do several hundred ATIPs every year. I'm asking not only for myself but for other MPs and others who are fighting through the system.

I'll give the example of our fight with the Trudeau Foundation. We submitted about 70 well over two years ago, and they came back to us saying, “We won't respond to you. It's your fault because you're asking for too many. We'll respond only if you cut down on the number of requests.” We, unfortunately, didn't file a complaint within the 60 days.

How would MPs and other people deal with the department like this? Literally, their response was that they refused to honour the law until we cut down the number of questions we've asked. It was our fault for asking too much. They've actually put this in writing to us, blaming my department for daring to ask for ATIPs. How would regular citizens, members of Parliament or anyone else who's seeking truth and information under this right deal with a situation like this?

[Caroline Maynard]

Definitely, you have to protect your right to complain. Just so you know, I initiated my own investigation with respect to this institution. Some institutions are new to the Access to Information Act and some institutions don't have the processes or the administration, so we need to be made aware. The best way to make us aware of these types of issues is to file a complaint with our office. However, definitely push back. There is a “right to know” under the act and there are obligations for these institutions to follow.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Especially with this one because, if you recall, there's an ongoing lawsuit against the Trudeau Foundation around sexual harassment, and we've actually looked at some of the court filings because it's now public. Given some of the accusations, it's quite abhorrent what the foundation and some of the members were doing to young people. Some of our ATIPs were regarding this issue and their way of hiding it.

Again, we're two and a half years after the fact and they're still refusing to respond. Should we just resubmit and then complain? How would we—and I'm sure there are lot of other people in the same situation—force them to respond as they're required to?

[Caroline Maynard]

Again, the act allows you to complain. There's a timeline, unfortunately, but it should be used because that's the only way to make sure that you will end up with a response and investigation ultimately.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Wonderful. I guess we will resubmit.

Trudeau Foundation, be aware. You might as well start working on it right now.

We will excuse Madam Maynard—

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'm not sure how to bring this forward. I need to correct the record because our guest did indicate that following COVID all of the records were sealed for 15 years, and that's not correct.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

That has nothing to do with my questioning.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

I just wanted to make the point—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

It's an inappropriate time to do so. You have plenty of time afterwards—

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

No, I did not get an opportunity, so that's why.

Okay. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Others do. That's not how we do it, but thanks very much.

Madame Maynard, thank you very much. Thank you for your patience in responding to my questions, and thank you for everything you're doing and for defending our right to access information. It's sincerely appreciated.

We are now going to suspend and go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]