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Access to Information

Oral questions touched on access to information and the performance of the President of the Treasury Board. Conservatives Dominique Vien and Tamara Jansen said the minister had been unable last week to answer a basic question about his own department, cited press reports quoting Liberal MPs as unhappy with his work, and asked whether the Prime Minister still had confidence in him. The member replying said he supported the government’s work to modernize the access to information system, noted a review of the law launched last March, cited a permanent funding increase of about $20 million a year for Library and Archives Canada to process records requests, and said consultations were underway with input from bodies including the Information Commissioner.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Dominique Vien

Conservative
“Last week, the President of the Treasury Board could not answer a simple question. Does he believe the Prime Minister still has confidence in him?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are totally out of touch, but I want to raise a different topic. Last week, the President of the Treasury Board was unable to answer a simple question from my colleague. That embarrassed his government and, according to La Presse, angered his fellow Liberal MPs. He has had all weekend to recover and find the right page in his briefing book. Does he believe he still has the Prime Minister’s confidence? I will give him a few seconds to find the answer in his briefing book.

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Shafqat Ali

Liberal
“I did not hear the question.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 49 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I do not know what the question was, but as the President of the Treasury Board— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Shafqat Ali

Liberal
“The member did not ask a question. I support our work to improve the access to information system. We need it so the government stays open and honest. That is why we started reviewing the law last March.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague made a statement, but there was no question in that statement. As the President of the Treasury Board, I strongly support the government’s efforts to improve and modernize the access to information process. Access to information is a fundamental part of ensuring transparency and accountability for Canadians. That is why last March we launched a review of the Access to Information Act. We have provided Library and Archives— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Shafqat Ali

Liberal
“We gave Library and Archives Canada about $20 million more each year. This money will help it process requests for government records.”

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Official Hansard

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have awarded Library and Archives Canada with a permanent funding increase of approximately $20 million per year to support its access to information system.

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Tamara Jansen

Conservative
“Liberal MPs say the President of the Treasury Board is not doing his job well, and he could not answer a basic question about his department last week. Does the Prime Minister still have confidence in him?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the press reports that Liberal MPs say the President of the Treasury Board is not very present, not very diligent and struggling to master his files. Last week, Canadians watched him stand in this House, unable to answer a very basic question about his own department. If the Prime Minister demands confidence from his ministers, does he still have confidence in the President of the Treasury Board, yes or no?

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Shafqat Ali

Liberal

Linked statement

“I am meeting with government officials to update the access to information system. We are asking people for their input.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 48 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canada’s new government believes in transparency, accountability and fairness. As the President of the Treasury Board, I have been meeting with government agents, including the Information Commissioner. We have launched consultations to modernize the access to information system. I thank all the government agents, including the Information Commissioner, for their work to hold the government to account.

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