Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Dec. 16th, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Just one second.

You have a point of order, Mr. Proulx.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Chair, Mrs. Block says that she understood that she had been invited for only one hour. Could we hear from the clerk how Mrs. Block was invited here?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I don't believe that we can in open session, since that decision was made during an in camera session on committee business. We can certainly get you the information right after, if you'd like.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

I have difficulty accepting your explanation, as the invitation to us for this particular meeting says from 11 to 1. Why would a clerk invite us from 11 to 1 and her from 11 to noon?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

The committee often does business that doesn't have to do with the witness.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

It doesn't say so, sir, on the agenda.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

You attend, yes.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

On the agenda, it doesn't say so.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I'm just suggesting that Mrs. Block has suggested that she could be here for an hour. You're using up that time having this discussion.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

She just said that she had been invited for one hour only. We should get this straight.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

You're welcome.

Mr. Mulcair, you've used almost two minutes of your time on this issue. We'll start the clock when you're ready.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Right. Well, Mr. Chairman, I am going to repeat my request to Mrs. Block, because this is an institutional matter. It's a very grave matter. I request that she stay for the full two hours.

It's quite clear from the orders of the day that the only thing on the agenda today is her appearance, and it was quite clearly written on the document she saw that it was from 11 to 1. So it's not possible to have drawn any other conclusion. People will be allowed to draw whatever inference they want from her refusal to stay for the two hours provided for.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

I thank you for that very kind invitation to stay for the full two hours, but as I've said, I committed myself to one hour, and I do have other commitments.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

I would just like to remind you that this is an institutional matter that goes to the heart of Parliament's ability to function. Whatever else you have on your agenda I think should take second place to something that should be given priority.

Mrs. Block, what building is your office in on the Hill?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

My office is in the Confederation Building.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

As is mine. What floor is your office on?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

My office is on the sixth floor.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

What a coincidence. So is mine.

In the testimony that was given by Mr. Ullyatt earlier this week, we touched on certain issues that will go to credibility, and that's an important issue for us.

As you know, because I'm sure you were well briefed on this by your competent staff, in the Commonwealth countries where there is jurisprudence on this—they include Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand—the question of whether or not people were given and provided full briefings and information and instruction on maintaining confidentiality of documents is a factor to be considered. We're going to have to discuss some of these issues together today, reminding ourselves that it is indeed institutional and not individual.

Did you provide Mr. Ullyatt with specific instructions with regard to the confidentiality of those reports?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

I had many conversations with my staff about respecting confidentiality. I believe that Mr. Ullyatt was aware of the confidential nature of that report, because it said it on the cover.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

You said that he gave you his CV. In what context was Mr. Ullyatt able to get close enough to you to give you his CV?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

I had met him in person.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Who had introduced you?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

It was another staff member on the Hill.

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Who was it?

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Are the names relevant, Mr. Chair?