Justice Committee on Oct. 31st, 2023

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

I'm going to renew my point of order, Mr. Chair.

We've now heard this line of questioning pursued. If anything, it's become less relevant, if that's even possible. Now he's into asking the witness questions that the witness can't possibly even answer because they're beyond his knowledge. This is absurd, with all due respect.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Mr. Maloney, I'm going to allow discretion for our members to ask questions. If the witness is unable to answer a question, he can say that he's unable to answer it. If the witness wants to speak to something, that's the witness's time. The answer is the witness's time; the question is our time.

I would tend to agree with Mr. Housefather. If we were dealing with a witness that we brought in from somewhere to speak specifically on some narrow issue.... However, we have officials from the department, and we have the minister appearing. Everyone around the table knows that when a minister is here or when certain officials are here, sometimes we have very wide-ranging questions.

Go ahead, Mr. Brock.

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Wide-ranging doesn't include an entirely different topic, with all due respect, Mr. Chair.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Livingstone, would you like me to repeat the question?

[Edward Livingstone]

Yes, I'll need you to repeat the question, please.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Thank you.

Mr. Livingstone, why did the government refuse the RCMP's request for a full waiver of cabinet confidences?

[Edward Livingstone]

I'm not in a position to answer that question.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Do you have an answer that you just cannot respond with?

[Edward Livingstone]

No, I don't have an answer to that question.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Did you counsel the outcome?

[Edward Livingstone]

I can't answer that question; that's privileged information.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

What position did you advise the government to take?

[Edward Livingstone]

I can't answer that question.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Livingstone, if you can't answer the question, is there any other individual who was providing instructions with regard to the question that I just put to you?

[Edward Livingstone]

I don't know the answer to that question.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Were you part of a team that gave advice to the government with respect to that request from the RCMP?

[Edward Livingstone]

I can't speak to any advice that I provided.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

That wasn't the question.

Were you part of a team of lawyers, of senior counsel, who were tasked with the responsibility of advising the government on that position to take with respect to that request? Were you part of a team?

[Edward Livingstone]

I believe that's still an area of privilege. I can't answer that question.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Livingstone, on July 5, 2019, you emailed—

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

We were called here to talk about Bill C‑40. I don't see the connection at all between the questions being asked and the notice of meeting I received.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Madame Brière, everyone here is going to have time to ask the questions they want. Mr. Brock is asking his question. He has 30 seconds left.

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

That's not my objection. I'm saying that the questions being asked have nothing to do with the topic of today's meeting.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Do I have 30 seconds left, Mr. Chair?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Rob Moore]

Yes.