Stockwell Day

[Former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, March 10th, 2011]

First, Mr. Speaker, I am really pleased to see the Information Commissioner's report today, talking about improvements in access to information, if that is what the member is talking about.

The government sought legal advice on the matter that my hon. colleague has mentioned. We have followed that advice. In less than an hour, the former commissioner will appear before the all party parliamentary committee that approved her hiring in the first place. That is the appropriate place for the discussion to be followed.

[Former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, March 10th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, our priority is to protect our workers. In this case, the government sought legal advice. We followed that advice. I believe that within the hour, the individual my colleague referred to will appear before the committee, and that is the appropriate place to discuss the situation.

[Former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, March 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I addressed all these questions yesterday and I will do it again today.

When it comes to the legal advice, we are looking at the question in terms of what, if any, of that can be released.

I have also said that following the Auditor General's report, which shows how these cases had been handled or had not been handled, there were some serious difficulties, but we are looking at the question of recoverability.

The former commissioner is appearing before the all-party committee tomorrow. That is the proper place to address this because it is that committee that is seized with this issue and it should be.

We are concerned about the whistleblowers and their protection.

[Former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, March 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the government sought legal advice about this situation and then followed that advice. According to the information I have, the person my colleague referred to will appear before a parliamentary committee tomorrow to respond to questions.

[Points of Order, March 8th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I would say with great fear and trepidation and nothing but the hugest of respect for you, your office and all of your rulings, I was not sure, and Hansard may show, if you were reflecting that there was a change in practice. Of course, our position is that this is a continuation of an existing practice. I respect the verbiage that you chose and I am just pointing out that one element of debate.

[Points of Order, March 8th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I can understand my friend's frustration when he has not been given the full information by his own researchers.

First, as we have already said, it is common practice across governments that we would see the name of a leader of a party referenced from time to time. It happens many times. This was approved by the former clerk of the Privy Council working under the Liberal government. It was also approved by the president of the Privy Council.

If he is looking for a quote, there are lots of them. I have one here in an actual release about the 2004 budget. It says, “Paul Martin government announces...”. Right after that it says, “Budget 2004, announced today by the Paul Martin government...”. In the next sentence it says, “Budget 2004, announced today by the Paul Martin government...”. That is three times in two sentences. Even we have not been that aggressive.

[Points of Order, March 8th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I will certainly look into this, as I indicated to my colleague opposite, to see what can be released in terms of whatever legal agreement was reached.

I also want to clarify the record. I was asked a question today in relation to any meeting with the previous commissioner. The question was posed in light of these difficulties. I have never met with her or talked with her in light of any of these issues.

My scheduling assistant just informed me that there was a meeting about a year ago, last May I believe it was. I just want to correct the record. I do not want to have said anything that could be misconstrued in any way, so I just want to correct that.

I will get back to my colleague on whether we can release the legal advice that we were given.

[Former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, March 8th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, in response to a question like that, it is very important to state the truth, the whole truth. Yes, the person in question sent me a letter requesting a meeting, but we did not meet.

There is something more important here: the government sought legal advice and followed it. There is a new commissioner in place now, and he is looking at all the cases.

[Former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, March 8th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, in this matter the government sought legal advice and received that advice.

The government, following the Auditor General's report, immediately put in place an interim commissioner, who is quite rightly following up on all of those complaints from public servants. Also, the whole question of recoverability of funds is being looked into as a result of that report.

Our concern and priority remains with the whistleblowers, the hard-working public servants who bring their concerns forward.

[Points of Order, March 7th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, was this a point of order?