Evidence of meeting #9 for Natural Resources in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was aecl.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
If we could, let's get back as soon as possible to the remaining questions for the minister.
Mr. St. Amand.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
Lloyd St. Amand Liberal Brant, ON
Thank you.
With respect, Mr. Chair, you have an obligation to the members of this committee to let us know, as soon as you become aware, what the status is of the meeting this afternoon. I'm asking you directly, yes or no, do you anticipate that Linda Keen will be here at one o'clock to present before us?
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. St. Amand, it seems that it is the will of the committee to do this with the minister here. It's very odd, very unusual. I don't think it's appropriate. But if that's what the committee wants to do, I will read an e-mail that we received about an hour ago. It was sent to the clerk. The e-mail reads as follows:
Given the significant change in circumstances, including the termination of Linda Keen as President and CEO as of 10 pm last evening, it is not possible in these circumstances for Ms. Linda Keen to be present this afternoon as she had previously agreed to yesterday. As such, she was prepared to come as President until last evening.
As she is no longer in that role, she must reassess her ability to make her comments and answer the questions.
Ms. Keen hopes that she will be given an opportunity to address these issues before the Committee at some future date.
This is signed by Mr. Jason Cameron. His position isn't stated here. He is from the CNSC. I don't know if someone here knows what his position is. It isn't stated on the e-mail.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
On a point of clarification, Mr. Chairman, when we--
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Just a minute, Ms. Gallant, please.
Mr. Cameron is the director general of strategic planning for the CNSC in the regulatory affairs branch. That's who he is.
I also want to say that Ms. Keen had sent an e-mail to the clerk at roughly 9 o'clock this morning indicating that she would be coming, and in fact asking if she would be allowed to come in through the back door so that she wouldn't have to face the media. That was agreed to. We were going to proceed like that.
So the change from 9 o'clock until 10:45 is kind of an interesting thing, but it's something we have to deal with.
Yes, Mr. Proulx.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
So for all we know, Ms. Keen might be here this afternoon, Mr. Chair.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
She has indicated in this more recent e-mail--or Mr. Cameron has--that she will not be here.
Ms. Gallant.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Chairman, is it not incumbent upon a witness to come to committee when they're called?
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
She had agreed up until nine this morning, and now she's not coming?
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
That is correct.
Of course, I can't answer for that. That's the situation we're facing here now. I will say let's not get into—
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
She hasn't said that, Mr. Chair. Somebody else said that for her. In response to her question, I wish you would answer that it was not she who decided she wasn't coming.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. Proulx, this e-mail is from her office. She is still a member of the board, and we have to assume that it's a legitimate e-mail sent to the clerk. I don't know how else you approach this.
We have the minister at the table here. Let's get back to the questioning of the minister if there are further questions. Otherwise, let's have the courtesy to dismiss the minister and the deputy minister, and if you want to have a further discussion on this, we can do that.
Mr. McGuinty.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Chair, I suggest we continue with questions for the minister, who has graciously accepted to stay.
I think one of the ways of dealing with the e-mail you have received from another officer is to find out through the clerk whether the officer who sent you the e-mail is authorized to speak for Linda Keen.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. McGuinty, it is this individual and these people who have been coordinating this all along. So what's changed? If they had the authority to speak on behalf of Ms. Keen then, then why not now?
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
What's changed, Mr. Chair, is that you told us you received an e-mail from Linda Keen at nine this morning, personally saying she would show up here at one o'clock. An hour or two later you told us there's a third party who sent another e-mail from the CNSC. Therefore, I am asking, just as a matter of clarification, whether that person speaking is authorized to speak on Linda Keen's behalf.
It would be one thing to receive a letter from counsel advising his or her client not to attend. That's one thing. It's an entirely different matter when we get an e-mail following hard on the heels of a first e-mail from the individual who's been convened, saying that she's not coming.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
The e-mail this morning was from the same people, Mr. McGuinty.
Let's get on to the questioning of the minister, to continue.
Mr. St. Amand.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Lloyd St. Amand Liberal Brant, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister Lunn, it's been a very eventful 12 or 24 hours for Ms. Keen. When was the fact of her firing conveyed to Ms. Keen?
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Gary Lunn Conservative Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Again, that's not something that I would do. I want to stress that she remains a full-time member of the commission, and she's been removed in her position as CEO and president, as you correctly pointed out.
That decision was conveyed yesterday morning by me to the officials, and they would have carried that out. I was notified that it was done in the evening. But there's a process involved. Maybe the deputy could add more to that.
12:10 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Natural Resources
Mr. Chair, it's important to note that Linda Keen, in her role as chair and president, is a Governor in Council appointment. So the decision was made by the minister early yesterday morning, and I understand that it took the balance of the day to have the GIC processed and that Ms. Keen was advised last evening.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Lloyd St. Amand Liberal Brant, ON
So Ms. Keen was advised sometime yesterday that, although yet a member of the commission, she was being fired from her position as president of the commission.
How was it actually conveyed to her--by telephone, e-mail, letter?
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Just to clarify what Mr. St. Amand is saying, didn't one of the e-mails suggest that she received news at ten o'clock last night? I think that was one of the ones you read.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Gary Lunn Conservative Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Chair, maybe I could answer this. Again, I don't know the information. We'd be happy to provide that and get back to the committee. Again, this was a decision that was carried out by personnel in government. They're not even in my department, so I'm not aware of how it was done. But we would be happy, if we find out, to provide that back to the committee at a later date.