Human Resources committee  I would simply say that it is the responsibility of all Canadians to apply for benefits under the program. On our side, it is our duty to check the information and to issue payment as quickly as possible. This is all part of a move towards accountability, but it is assisted accou

Human Resources committee  Yes.

Human Resources committee  First of all, the amendment is directed at the federal government, not the provinces. Secondly, we believe that the present neutral language provides greater flexibility regarding the timing of the provision of information. There is nothing that can fall between the cracks since

Human Resources committee  Absolutely.

Human Resources committee  If I may, I will ask my colleague to deal with the privacy and other issues that this may raise.

Human Resources committee  Which amendment do you mean?

Human Resources committee  It makes it more restrictive, in our view.

Human Resources committee  The language that is used now allows before or after, and the amendments here would make it before. There may be cases when information, for some reason, is not available. We're focusing now on information on release dates. But the information that is most salient for preparing

Human Resources committee  Well, it puts a responsibility on the Correctional Service that it does not have now--

Human Resources committee  --in terms of collecting some information and providing it to us. I think there will be a dialogue between Service Canada and the inmate. For example, an inmate who turns 65 while in custody can apply for the benefit and go through the eligibility. That takes a period of time. T

Human Resources committee  The information sharing agreement will have service standards that must be met. That will be the agreement between the two departments, where they have to meet timelines, etc.

Human Resources committee  I think that's partly the case. We have to be in touch with the inmate to establish all the personal details.

Human Resources committee  I cannot say a whole lot. I will say this. I also read the record and what Mr. Head said, and I think Correctional Services, before an inmate is released, has a plan. The plan would be a halfway house or parole, and so on, and for a period of time they stay in contact. He also s

Human Resources committee  We will issue a payment when we have a confirmation that the inmate has actually been released. The projected date, eventual date, anticipated date, and so on, are irrelevant from the point of view of issuing a cheque. We will wait to know that the inmate has actually left the pr

Human Resources committee  That's right. They don't need that information to do their Correctional Service business. There's a risk of mixed information, of error. We like to deal with the person directly.