Mr. Walsh alluded to the fact that this issue arises not infrequently, and it very often arises in the context of the Privacy Act, because personal information and the privacy of individuals is a very important value in Canadian society. Departments have come here before parliamentary committees in the past, and they have taken the position that they themselves are bound by the Privacy Act. The parliamentary committee is not.
With respect, I think the way we reconcile the position...Mr. Walsh's position is that Parliament is supreme. I completely agree. When you explained to one of the members how this gets dealt with, you said in fact it ends up being referred to Parliament. This is, with all respect, a parliamentary committee. Marleau and Montpetit, all of the authorities, are clear that a parliamentary committee can order the production of documents or witnesses but cannot compel their attendance or their disclosure. Only the House of Commons can compel the disclosure. On that, I am sure there is absolutely no disagreement in this room. This is in every standard parliamentary text and practice.