ETHI Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 24

Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met in a televised session at 11:00 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Jean Crowder, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Scott Andrews, Brad Butt, Blaine Calkins, John Carmichael, Jean Crowder, Patricia Davidson, Dean Del Mastro, Pierre-Luc Dusseault, Colin Mayes and Dany Morin.

Acting Members present: Rick Dykstra for Dean Del Mastro, Élaine Michaud for Charlie Angus, Jinny Jogindera Sims for Charlie Angus and Robert Sopuck for Earl Dreeshen.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Maxime-Olivier Thibodeau, Analyst.

Witnesses: Hill + Knowlton Strategies: Michael Coates, President and Chief Executive Officer; Elizabeth Roscoe, Senior Vice President and National Practice Leader, Public Affairs. Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying: Bruce Bergen, Senior Counsel; René Leblanc, Deputy Commissioner; Karen E. Shepherd, Commissioner of Lobbying.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Wednesday, September 28, 2011, section 14.1 (1) of the Lobbying Act, and the motion adopted by the Committee on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, the Committee resumed the statutory review of the Lobbying Act.

Elizabeth Roscoe and Michael Coates made statements and answered questions.

At 11:51 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:57 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Karen E. Shepherd made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

Pierre-Luc Dusseault moved, — That, in light of witness testimony heard regarding offences under the Lobbyist Registration Act, the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics call representatives of the office of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada to testify with regard to the interpretation of the provisions of the Act.

Debate arose thereon.

Patricia Davidson moved, — That the Committee proceed to sit in camera.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Brad Butt, Blaine Calkins, John Carmichael, Patricia Davidson, Rick Dykstra, Colin Mayes, Robert Sopuck — 7; NAYS: Scott Andrews, Pierre-Luc Dusseault, Élaine Michaud, Dany Morin — 4.

At 12:42 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:44 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

At 12:46 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:47 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.

The Committee resumed consideration of the statutory review of the Lobbying Act. Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

Blaine Calkins moved, — That, for the week of February 27 to March 2, 2012, the Committee's schedule be as follows:

- February 28 - drafting instructions to the analysts for the statutory review of the Lobbying Act and consideration of the draft report on the study of the access to information dispute and the resulting court actions concerning CBC

- March 1 - Mr. Andrew Saxton (Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board) and senior departmental officials for the first hour on the statutory review of the Lobbying Act. And, in the second hour, resumption of the consideration of the draft report on the study of the access to information dispute and the resulting court actions concerning CBC.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Brad Butt, Blaine Calkins, John Carmichael, Patricia Davidson, Colin Mayes, Robert Sopuck — 6; NAYS: Scott Andrews, Pierre-Luc Dusseault, Élaine Michaud, Dany Morin — 4.

At 1:07 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Chad Mariage
Clerk of the Committee

2012/02/17 1:34 p.m.