Jane Stewart

[Human Resources Development, May 19th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, not even the privacy commissioner suggested that we do that.

[Human Resources Development, May 19th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, CSIS and the RCMP do not have direct access to the longitudinal file. If they were to request information from that file they would have to have a court order.

Finally, I would say that an examination has been done with the privacy commissioner, which found that there has never been disclosure for administrative or law enforcement purposes.

[Human Resources Development, May 19th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I fear that the hon. member is trying to lump together some individual files that are being handled by the police. She is presuming the results. She is assuming that there is a direct connection with the department in all cases.

What I want to ensure is that if these officials do come back and indicate that there is wrongdoing, then we will take swift action because we will not accept abuse of public funds.

[Human Resources Development, May 19th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the department is working to provide information in a very transparent fashion. Let us look at what we have done.

In the context of our six point plan, we began by looking at 37 files, reviewing them in detail. We found overpayments. We went after and collected most of the money.

We then looked at the rest of the internal audit files. We looked at them in detail. We found some overpayments. We went out and collected most of the money.

We then looked at 17,000 active files in detail. We found some areas where money was owing. We collected the majority. Today, $6,500 is owing to the government.

[Human Resources Development, May 19th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, what the privacy commissioner said was that he understands why the information is collected and that it is useful in the research of the government.

What he said was that the information is encrypted and that it is secure. What he said was that he has some concerns for the future. We have concerns and that is why we want to work with him to ensure that the system that is secure today will be secure tomorrow.

[Human Resources Development, May 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said time and again, I think in this particular circumstance, should the hon. member want that information and would like to detail the source of information he would like in particular, he should best go through the access to information process.

[Employment Insurance, May 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member is referring to the process of consultation on the EI boundaries, it has begun. It was gazetted on Saturday. There are 30 days now for all Canadians to consider the proposals that have been presented. They were built with the support of citizens across the country but now more have the opportunity to comment.

I would expect that the hon. member himself may wish to make comment in this regard over the course of the 30 day period.

[Human Resources Development, May 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I can think of nothing better to say than to remind the House what the privacy commissioner said in his report.

He first of all identified that the way we were using this information was useful in terms of improving the quality of our programs. He said that HRDC people were being careful with what they do with this information. He said “I am not suggesting either that they have done anything unlawful here or that is not legal”.

We have to remember that things are in working order here, but we have to ensure in the future that remains true. That is why to me it makes sense for us to continue to work—

[Privacy, May 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, very clearly the most important thing we are doing is working with the privacy commissioner. Let me say again that he has indicated we are abiding by the laws. He is saying that the information is secure. He is saying that there are things we can do to ensure Canadians know the information is being collected and how it is being used.

I agree there are ways that we could improve it. I hope to work with him in the future to ensure that security is sustained and that we can ensure Canadians that the information being collected is held appropriately.

[Human Resources Development, May 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, again, as I have said on a number of occasions with reference to this particular audit, it has nothing to do with the program that the privacy commissioner is reviewing.

As I said in the House yesterday, this was an audit done by the department, which is the right thing to do. We reviewed it, we have taken action on it and we have made improvements.