Government Operations committee  I'd first say that it's not my view. It's the view of successive governments. It's not just the current government. It's governments that have come before them. As I mentioned, in 1973, there were principles tabled governing the production of documents. We certainly use that as one of the criteria in terms of what can and cannot be shared.

Government Operations committee  I am not a legal expert.

Government Operations committee  I don't think it's a simple yes or no question because—

Government Operations committee  —there are other privacy acts and information acts that apply.

Government Operations committee  Successive governments have taken the same view in terms of the production of documents to Parliament, going back to the 1973 principles governing the production of documents for Parliament. The government of the day tabled its position, explaining exactly what could and could not be tabled to parliamentary committees.

Government Operations committee  —privacy. The Supreme Court, in some cases—

Government Operations committee  We received no such direction.

Government Operations committee  I would say that I'm not speaking on behalf of all departments. I simply gave an opening statement in order to maximize the time for the committee.

Government Operations committee  There is coordination. It was not direction. I think there's a huge difference. When we met as an ADM working group to talk about how we could best respond to this—

Government Operations committee  —there was a request that I give an opening statement.

Government Operations committee  I can only speak for the PCO, and the PCO has received no such direction. We have followed the standards and protocols that we always follow. In the case of these documents, of the 280 pages, we have two paragraphs that were redacted, and that was for cabinet confidence. In the original documents that we provided to you, we redacted additional information that was commercial confidence related to McKinsey and two instances of personal information related to those who signed the contract.

Government Operations committee  Hello, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for inviting departmental officials, including the Privy Council Office, to provide information about the government’s response to the motion for the production of documents concerning contracts awarded to McKinsey & Company.