Evidence of meeting #40 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ullyatt.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Liberal
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?
Conservative
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.
Liberal
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?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
The committee often does business that doesn't have to do with the witness.
Conservative
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.
Liberal
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.
Conservative
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.
NDP
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.
Conservative
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.
NDP
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?
Conservative
Conservative
NDP
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?
Conservative
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.
NDP
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?
December 16th, 2010 / 11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative