Mr. Speaker, the Access to Information Act requires that the package of briefing materials prepared for a minister or deputy head for the purpose of an appearance before a committee of Parliament be proactively published within 120 days after the appearance. The act does not make any distinction regarding the type or format of the information that comprises the package of briefing materials.
Ministers and deputy heads receive information from departments on a regular basis that may be used for a variety of purposes. This material would not be subject to proactive disclosure requirements 74(d) and 88(c) of the act unless it was part of the package of briefing materials prepared specifically for a parliamentary appearance.
Information published through proactive publication should mirror what would be released if information were released in response to an access to information request. In other words, if an institution received a request for the briefing materials prepared for a minister or deputy head for a parliamentary committee appearance, that institution would apply exemptions and exclusions in accordance with the act. The same exemptions and exclusions should apply when briefing materials are proactively published.
Each minister and government entity is responsible for compliance with these requirements.