Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
On a point of privilege, I don't feel right about letting this go by. In light of the fact that we're either in the final process of or we've just concluded a report on leaks, and given that the government has decided that leakers need to be handcuffed and marched out of their workplace, I don't think it can be left untouched that somebody on this committee decided that it was more important for them to get some media. As a result, in the Friday paper after our in camera meeting, the reporter says in part of this.... And I don't fault the reporter; he's doing his job. But ours is also to respect the confidentially of matters we enter into. That's what we tell bureaucrats they have to do. It's much of the ethics we're talking about when we're dealing with our RCMP officers.
It says right here, “However, sources said the panel has decided to call back...” and it listed names. And if anybody wants to suggest that was public and available from the minutes that were posted, to the best of my knowledge they were posted on Friday at 3:50 p.m., which would be the afternoon of the morning of the day that the report was published.
Mr. Chair, people don't have to respond if they don't wish. I was very strong about this in subcommittee. I've calmed down a bit, but I'm not going to just let it go without commenting that at the end of the day, it makes members of this committee--some members--hypocrites. You cannot say to people who work for the people of Canada, through the Government of Canada, that you cannot release confidential information when that's part of your job. We're not talking about whistle-blowers identifying things that are wrong and protecting them and getting that out. We're talking about people whose job it is to maintain confidentiality, and if we don't stand by those standards respecting each other's rights and privileges, then what right do we have to stand on Parliament Hill and pontificate that everybody else has to meet that standard?
Mr. Chair, we can do better. We have to do better, or this committee will not have the moral ground to do the work we do. I'm asking colleagues to please show a little more respect when we give confidence and give our word, particularly to each other, if making your word publicly isn't enough.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.