Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you to the minister and all the witnesses for being here.
Minister, chapter 18 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice lays out the rules about the financial cycle and the main estimates. It says that members have the right to have their grievances addressed before approving requirements of the Crown.
As you're probably aware, one of the grievances that I have deals with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada operations and leadership relating to your associate deputy minister on the production of papers motion that we have that's before IRCC. As you're likely aware, there are some issues with redactions in documents that were finally sent over just yesterday, but there are still two documents that have redactions that we have not been able to see.
When Madam Xavier was here at the committee last week, she was somewhat dismissive about the absolute constitutional authority of the House of Commons to send for documents. Indeed, she actually said that the IRCC was able, through client-solicitor privilege, to redact documents, which I don't believe is true.
I guess my question for you is, bearing in mind that you are also a member of Parliament, a member of the House of Commons, and not just the minister, do you agree with your deputy that IRCC has the authority to override the House of Commons' constitutional authority and withhold information from this committee?