Evidence of meeting #81 for Justice and Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was commission.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
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.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
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.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Wide-ranging doesn't include an entirely different topic, with all due respect, Mr. Chair.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Mr. Livingstone, would you like me to repeat the question?
4:20 p.m.
Senior Advisor and Senior General Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
Yes, I'll need you to repeat the question, please.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
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?
4:20 p.m.
Senior Advisor and Senior General Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
I'm not in a position to answer that question.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
Do you have an answer that you just cannot respond with?
4:20 p.m.
Senior Advisor and Senior General Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
No, I don't have an answer to that question.
4:20 p.m.
Senior Advisor and Senior General Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
I can't answer that question; that's privileged information.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
Senior Advisor and Senior General Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
I can't answer that question.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
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?
4:20 p.m.
Senior Advisor and Senior General Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
I don't know the answer to that question.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
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?
4:20 p.m.
Senior Advisor and Senior General Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
I can't speak to any advice that I provided.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
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?
4:20 p.m.
Senior Advisor and Senior General Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice
I believe that's still an area of privilege. I can't answer that question.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
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.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
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.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
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.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative