Jane Stewart

[Human Resources Development, May 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we have taken action with regard to the commissioner's recommendations.

It is very important to note that the information is secure, it is encrypted and access to data that is not encrypted is available to only six employees in the department.

I would also note that the commissioner recommended that the information contained in these files should be managed within a contained timeframe, and we have done that.

I also remind the hon. member that the Prime Minister said that the deputy wrote to the privacy commissioner in March and asked him to join us in a working group to ensure that in the future we will continue to improve the privacy of this information for the protection—

[Human Resources Development, May 17th, 2000]

Again, Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is doing nothing but trying to scare Canadians. This information is used only for research. It will not be sold.

[Human Resources Development, May 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, in the context of this issue, let us again look at what the privacy commissioner said about the men and women in my department. He said “We have over at HRDC right now some very well motivated public servants who are being very careful”. He understands that the men and women in my department appreciate the issue of privacy.

I want to confirm to the House that indeed we are ensuring that the information we use is encrypted, that it is secure. I would note that in March a deputy of my department wrote to the privacy commissioner and asked him to join us in a working group to ensure that we continue to provide privacy into the future.

[Human Resources Development, May 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I will stand in my place today and say that I do take my job responsibly. If nothing else, the last five months in this House prove that.

I want to remind the hon. member again that it is a department that is continuously looking at itself, using audits to identify areas where we can make improvements and it is a department that makes changes to improve the services that we provide to Canadians.

[Human Resources Development, May 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, what I will stand up and defend is the fact that my department does internal audits and that these audits are very useful tools in helping us to continuously improve the operation of the programs in my department. Is she suggesting that we should not be looking at ourselves or that we should not be challenging ourselves to get better? Is that what the hon. member would like?

[Human Resources Development, May 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, here again we have that party trying to scare Canadians.

Let us look at what the privacy commissioner actually did say about the department, and I quote:

I don't question that they had, and they have, good reasons for doing this and that it is useful information in terms of improving the quality of their programs. I am not suggesting either that they've done anything unlawful here. They are complying with the strict letter of the law....

The commissioner goes on to note “the very responsible management that this file is getting right now”.

[Human Resources Development, May 16th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, again on this file I would point out that the information rests with the RCMP. It is up to the RCMP to make determinations on the next steps.

[Human Resources Development, May 16th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, last Tuesday the department received new information on this file. On Wednesday the information was reviewed. On Thursday it was passed on to the RCMP for its review and consideration. That is where it lies.

[Human Resources Development, May 16th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it is nothing more than a tactic to distract Canadians from the fact that yesterday in St. John's West the party of the extreme right in this House barely beat the extreme wrestling party.

The people of Canada understand the importance of grants and contributions. The people of Atlantic Canada proved that yesterday.

[Human Resources Development, May 16th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the coming changes will be above board.

Talk about political tactics. Let us look at the speech that is being given by the leader of the party opposite in the House today.