Public Accounts Committee on March 10th, 2011

[Christiane Ouimet]

I was worried because my staff were being called just about every week; there were requests for weekends. They looked at every financial aspect. They used every aspect. Quite frankly, they--

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

You realize that's comforting to us because that's what we want them to do.

[Christiane Ouimet]

Well, it's not, if it's not in conformity with due process.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Again, you realize you're not the first to go through this. Many, many deputies and department heads have gone through this.

[Christiane Ouimet]

I am told, and I've been told repeatedly, that this was a very special audit, unprecedented.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Do you think you were treated differently?

[Christiane Ouimet]

Can I read you a note? It's been going on since September 2, 2009. I wrote to the Deputy Auditor General:

With respect to a future interview, I was informed for the first time last week that I would not have access to specific allegations. It is September. I still don't know about the allegations against me.

Up until June 2010 I received seven boxes of documents in my office, with no specifics. The institutional lawyer had to inquire as to what the nature was of those seven boxes. They repeatedly told us that they have never gone through a process like that, sir.

I manage audits. I've been CEO of Consulting and Audit Canada. I've managed investigations. I have never seen a process like that. I'm being very--

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Do you think it was unprofessional and unfair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Joe Volpe]

I'll stop you there. You may want to answer that later.

I'm going to have to go to Mr. Saxton.

Thank you, Mr. Christopherson.

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, North Vancouver, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to our witness for being here today, because this is the proper place, this is the proper venue, for us to address this very important matter.

Madame Ouimet, you were appointed in August 2007. Can you please outline the appointment process that you went through and concluded in your being unanimously appointed by Parliament to this position? What steps were taken? Where did you testify? How long did the process last?

[Christiane Ouimet]

First, I have to say it was an honour. It was an honour to be considered by both houses to be Canada's first Public Sector Integrity Commissioner. I looked at the legislation. I saw how complicated it was. The very nature of the legislation lends itself to a lot of complicated legal arguments, but as well it goes to the heart of your public institutions. My first reaction when I arrived was to write to parliamentarians.

I apologize, my lawyer always reminds me to answer the question.

I was appointed. First, I appeared before the operations committee--

[The Chair, Liberal, Joe Volpe]

We don't make that rule, by the way.

[Christiane Ouimet]

I apologize, Mr. Chair.

Essentially, I was asked what my priorities were. I had prepared a statement and those priorities never changed: education, so that people know that we exist--and that is, in large part, part of the question Madame Faille was asking. People didn't know we existed.

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, North Vancouver, BC]

Madame Ouimet, can I just go back to the original question? I'm interested to know the process that you went through when you were appointed to this position unanimously by Parliament. In other words, did you appear before the government operations committee?

[Christiane Ouimet]

Yes, indeed.

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, North Vancouver, BC]

What questions were you asked? And did you have an opportunity to have an opening statement, for example?

[Christiane Ouimet]

Yes, indeed. I apologize if I'm not clear.

Yes, I did. In that opening statement I set out the priorities that I saw were important as a new agent of Parliament. Then I did appear before the Senate, and I had some direction and guidance from the Senate with respect to the mandate. Then, of course, there was a unanimous motion and I took office in August.

Does that answer your question, sir?

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, North Vancouver, BC]

Yes. Was there any opposition to your appointment, either in the House, the government operations committee, which was chaired by the opposition Liberals, or in the Senate?

[Christiane Ouimet]

None whatsoever.

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, North Vancouver, BC]

Thank you.

How many times, Madame Ouimet, did you appear before parliamentary committees while you were in your position, and which parliamentary committees did you appear before?

[Christiane Ouimet]

I asked to appear before the Senate committee, the finance committee, and the operations committee. I met as well with each chair. I must have appeared at least half a dozen times.

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, North Vancouver, BC]

And during your time before the committees, did you answer all the questions that were asked of you?

[Christiane Ouimet]

Absolutely.

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, North Vancouver, BC]

In your role as commissioner, how did you report to Parliament?

[Christiane Ouimet]

I reported to Parliament through my annual report, which tells the story of the challenges of my organization, and through the Report on Plans and Priorities. In addition, I tried to reach out to parliamentarians at every opportunity.