Information & Ethics committee  In fact, this legislation included the $1,500 limit, but it also provides the discretion to take it up to $3,000. The reality is that we have had only one case where in fact legal advice was required. Under the act, we can actually offer that legal advice directly from our office, which is exactly what happened.

Information & Ethics committee  On average, we try to deal with issues within a three- or four- month period. Again, this fluctuates. In the case of reprisal--

Information & Ethics committee  It's still a bit early to tell, because when I arrived in August we did not have a measurement system in place, which we just implemented. We are starting to document the time being spent, and again there is the full range. At this point some of the cases have required very intensive work--some, in fact, years.

Information & Ethics committee  First of all, we have what we call the admissibility stage. This is when we decide whether we can refer the individual and the complaint somewhere else. The matter may not come under our jurisdiction, for example, if the individual is complaining about an organization that does not fall within our mandate.

Information & Ethics committee  Which was considerable.

Information & Ethics committee  Currently we have 22, and a 23rd member will be added in the next month or so.

Information & Ethics committee  Complaints? We had a good 70 complaints that needed more probing.

Information & Ethics committee  First of all, we had a wave of inquiries. There were well over 200 inquiries about what the legislation was about. It is confusing. The legislation, Bill C-2, has created a series of mechanisms. As well, as I recall, in the debates leading to the creation of this office, some machinery issues were discussed as to whether it was going to be a stand-alone agent of Parliament or joined with, for instance, the Public Service Commission, whether the tribunal should be created and what would be the role.

Information & Ethics committee  We had 200 inquiries and we did have a number of--

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, essentially last year the number of disclosures was 59 and 22. This year the total number of disclosures was 76 and the total number of reprisal complaints was 23. We had over 150 general inquiries.

Information & Ethics committee  I'll be tabling the report probably in the next week or so. There have been some full investigations in cases of reprisals. There has been a finding with respect to a reprisal case. In the context of disclosures, some corrective actions were recommended.

Information & Ethics committee  That's correct. However, you will see a statement in the next annual report. I don't think it will ever be a sheer number. It will not be measured by the number but rather the complexity and the sensitivity of each case--just as we had the previous year, very sensitive, complex cases.

Information & Ethics committee  This is a very good question. You're absolutely right, Mr. Chair. When there is a new piece of legislation you need at least a couple of years to really understand the full strength, what is needed, and ultimately we're talking about public interest versus private interest. That's not to say that private interests are not important--quite the opposite.

Information & Ethics committee  That's correct.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and good afternoon. It is a real pleasure to appear before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. I am joined today by my deputy commissioner, Henry Molot, and my general counsel, Joe Friday. I am absolutely delighted to appear before the committee to talk about the mandate and the role of the office, which is still relatively new.