ETHI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met in camera at 9:06 a.m. this day, in Room 209 West Block, the Acting Chair, David Tilson, presiding.

ORDERED, — That the Ethics Commissioner provide all legal opinions received for the legality of issuing reports regarding the conflict of sections 72.1(5) and 72.08(4) of the Parliament of Canada Act. These opinions are to be given to the Clerk of this Committee for distribution to the Members.

It was agreed, — The Committee schedule the following meetings:

- Thursday, June 9, 2005, at 9: 00 a.m., with Bernard Shapiro, Ethics Commissioner, on the Sgro letter, report and other matters;

- Tuesday, June 14, 2005, at 9: 00 a.m., tentatively schedule a briefing by the staff of the Lobbyist Registration Branch on the new Regulations coming into force on June 20, 2005;

- Thursday, June 16, 2005, at 9: 00 a.m., with representatives of the Canadian Newspaper Association on their latest study giving an F to the federal government on Access to Information;

- Tuesday, June 21, 2005, at 9: 00 a.m., with John Reid, Information Commissioner, on his Annual Report tabled in the House yesterday; followed by lunch at the Parliamentary Restaurant;

- The Committee will resume its study on Access to Information reform in the fall of 2005 beginning with a briefing by the staff of the Office of the Information Commissioner on the current Act as well as the proposed legislation; followed by meetings with user experts on the proposed legislation and other legislative changes they would like to see incorporated in the Act.

At 9:44 a.m., the Committee adjourned until 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 9, 2005.