Declaration of Emergency committee  —that I can speak—

Declaration of Emergency committee  —and provide the legal opinion, then I'm relieved from solicitor-client privilege.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Therefore, I can only conclude that you want to hide the legal opinion.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you. Consequently, I conclude that you have something to hide.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Could you explain something to me? You're saying that the use of the Emergencies Act was essential. However, following our request dated May 31, we were sent the daily reports from Ms. Jacqueline Bogden, then deputy secretary to the cabinet, Privy Council Office. The report from February 11 at 8 a.m. states that “0 to 5 people are gathered on Parliament Hill” and that “a small number of individuals are gathered along Wellington Street and surrounding streets”.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Perhaps that's the problem.

Declaration of Emergency committee  My question is for both ministers. Do you have something to hide?

Declaration of Emergency committee  Why won't you give us the legal opinion, then?

Declaration of Emergency committee  No, but that's—

Declaration of Emergency committee  No. You've repeated it eight times now.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Understood. I'm a lawyer myself.

Declaration of Emergency committee  I've studied the issue of solicitor‑client privilege rather extensively. To whom does the privilege belong? Who benefits? Cabinet benefits.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Why, then, doesn't cabinet simply relieve the minister of his privilege or duty of confidentiality, if you have nothing to hide? I think that you're heavyweights in cabinet. What's preventing you from providing the legal opinion? You wouldn't give it to Justice Rouleau. You said that Justice Rouleau made various decisions, that he examined everything and that it's all good.

Declaration of Emergency committee  There are still 56 documents pertaining to submissions published without being translated. Are you telling me no one noticed?

Declaration of Emergency committee  So, no one at the Privy Council Office or the Rouleau Commission looked into the issue of both official languages or no one was even the least bit concerned.