Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my colleague from Wild Rose. The official named, in my view, is in contempt of Parliament for his actions.
Erskine May's 21st edition describes contempt as:
—any act or omission which obstructs or impedes either House of Parliament in the performance of its functions, or which obstructs or impedes any Member or officer of such House in the discharge of his duty, or which has a tendency, directly or indirectly, to produce such results may be treated as contempt, even though there is no precedent for the offence.
As members we do not always expect enthusiastic co-operation from ministers and those who serve them, but when an official deliberately misleads a member of Parliament with some bogus rule and as a result of that act deliberately withholds information, it is a clear contempt of Parliament.
It is imperative that members of Parliament have the confidence to perform their duties with accurate information which is not deliberately misleading or deliberately withheld from them.
I join with the hon. member for Wild Rose and ask that you consider this very serious matter. I look forward to your ruling.