Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics

The Canadian parliamentary committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met to discuss a proposed plan by the federal and British Columbia governments to buy unsold condo units in B.C. using taxpayer money.

The committee met to discuss a possible conflict of interest involving the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, François-Philippe Champagne, and the high-speed rail project called Alto, where someone close to him works. Minister Champagne explained that he contacted the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner as soon as someone close to him received a job offer from Alto. He said the Commissioner's office told him there was no risk of a conflict of interest and that he didn't need to set up a special process to avoid conflicts. However, the Minister chose to put such a process, called a "screen," in place voluntarily, just to be extra careful. He argued that his actions, including voting on proposed laws related to Alto, were part of his general duties as a committee member and Minister, and therefore did not create a conflict. Opposition committee members questioned why the Minister voted on proposed laws that specifically helped the Alto project, even after he set up his voluntary screen. They were concerned about the appearance of a conflict of interest, especially since his spouse is an executive at Alto and there were reports of bonuses for Alto executives. They asked the Minister to share the letter he sent to the Prime Minister about his screen and the Commissioner's response, but he said it was up to the Commissioner to release those documents. Liberal committee members supported the Minister, praising his proactive approach and emphasizing that the Commissioner found no conflict. The Ethics Commissioner, Konrad von Finckenstein, confirmed that his office advised Minister Champagne that there was no conflict of interest. He explained that Alto is a government-owned company that reports to the Minister of Transport, not the Minister of Finance, and that the Minister of Finance has no power over Alto's staff decisions. The Commissioner stated that the Minister's connection to Alto was "too remote" to be a conflict. He also confirmed that his office did not require the Minister's screen and therefore did not publish it, and that his office's advice to Ministers is confidential unless the Minister chooses to make it public. During the meeting, committee members voted on a motion to ask the Minister to release the letter and ethics screen he mentioned, but the motion was defeated. The Commissioner also took the opportunity to suggest that the Conflict of Interest Act, the law that guides these matters, is outdated and needs to be updated to fit today's world.

This meeting of the committee focused on reviewing the proposed law about lobbying. The committee heard from several experts and organizations about how the rules for lobbyists should work, especially concerning transparency and how easy it is for everyday people and smaller groups to talk to the government. Key speakers included legal experts Suzanne Sabourin and Jacques Shore, who both argued that while transparency is important, some proposed changes would make the rules too complicated. They worried that this would discourage people from engaging with the government. Christina Santini from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) also spoke, emphasizing that small business owners are concerned about being accidentally labeled as lobbyists just for talking to their local politicians about their businesses. She recommended keeping the old rule of 32 hours per month for lobbying activity, rather than the new 8-hour rule, and excluding time spent applying for government grants from counting as lobbying. Later, Kyle Larkin from the Canadian Meat Council and Jodene Baker from Imagine Canada also shared their views. Mr. Larkin expressed concerns that proposed changes, like counting volunteer board members as lobbyists or requiring disclosure of all funding, would create too much paperwork and discourage participation from non-profit groups. Ms. Baker agreed, highlighting that many non-profits have limited staff who juggle many tasks, and overly strict lobbying rules would take away from their ability to deliver services and provide valuable community insights to the government. Committee members asked about the balance between transparency and making it easy for people to talk to their elected officials. There was discussion about whether the Commissioner of Lobbying should have more power to make rules or if Parliament should be the one to decide these changes. The experts generally agreed that Parliament should set the rules and that current proposals risk making the system too burdensome, potentially reducing important public dialogue rather than improving it. No specific decisions were made, but the committee gathered diverse perspectives to consider for future changes to the lobbying law.

This committee meeting was primarily a continuation of a heated debate about a proposed motion and amendments regarding the Prime Minister's conflict of interest screen and the transparency of its application. Conservative committee members Gabriel Hardy and Michael Cooper strongly argued for greater transparency, pushing for a sub-amendment that would require the Privy Council Office (PCO) to provide quarterly reports detailing every time an assessment was made about the Prime Minister's conflict of interest screen, including when it was decided *not* to apply the screen. They expressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest given the Prime Minister's investments and criticized what they saw as loopholes in the current screen and the administration of it by staff who report directly to the Prime Minister. They accused the Liberal committee members of resisting transparency and wasting time by blocking their efforts. Liberal committee members Fares Al Soud and Linda Lapointe opposed the sub-amendment, arguing that the existing system is rigorous and that the proposed changes would create unnecessary parallel processes. They stated that the committee should move on to other important work, such as studies on artificial intelligence and the Privacy Act, and accused the Conservative members of grandstanding and wasting the committee's time with lengthy speeches. Ms. Lapointe expressed confidence in the senior officials, Michael Sabia and Marc-André Blanchard, who administer the screen. The Bloc Québécois committee member, Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, expressed frustration with the ongoing partisan debate and the lack of progress, highlighting public cynicism about ethics in politics. She questioned why the Prime Minister's investments were only partially covered by the screen. No decisions were made on the sub-amendment, as the debate was adjourned. The Chair indicated that the next meeting would focus on the lobbying report.

The Canadian parliamentary committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met to discuss the budget plans for several offices, including the Commissioner of Lobbying and the Privacy Commissioner. Nancy Bélanger, the Commissioner of Lobbying, talked about her office's budget and the need for changes to the proposed law on lobbying to make it simpler and easier to follow. She also mentioned the challenges of the current funding model for agents of Parliament, saying it undermines their independence. Committee members questioned her about enforcement, audits, and the number of cases referred to the RCMP. Philippe Dufresne, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, discussed his office's budget and the importance of protecting privacy in a world of rapidly changing technology. He highlighted a recent investigation into OpenAI's ChatGPT and the need for stronger privacy laws. He also mentioned the increase in complaints received by his office and the challenges of limited resources. Committee members asked about age verification on social media platforms, the use of AI in his office, and the balance between privacy and efficient government services. Overall, both commissioners emphasized the need for updated laws and resources to effectively carry out their mandates in a rapidly changing digital world. The committee approved the budget requests from the various offices, but the votes were carried on division, indicating some disagreement among committee members. No specific next steps were identified beyond the ongoing review of the proposed law and the Privacy Act.

The Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics Committee met to discuss the budget for 2026-27 for several offices, including the Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Canada and the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. Caroline Maynard, the Information Commissioner, spoke about her office's budget and the challenges of responding to the increasing number of access to information requests. She noted that many requests are not answered within the required time, and this is made worse by government spending cuts. She also talked about the need to update the Access to Information Act and make sure it strengthens the public's right to know. Konrad von Finckenstein, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, discussed his office's budget and the importance of maintaining public trust in government. He mentioned that the current conflict of interest law needs to be updated, including adding rules about apparent conflicts of interest.

The Canadian parliamentary committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met to discuss the Lobbying Act. Witnesses included professors Ian Stedman and Lori Turnbull, who shared their expertise on public sector ethics and lobbying regulations. Stedman suggested simplifying the registration process for lobbyists and focusing on transparency in government decision-making. Turnbull emphasized the interconnectedness of the Lobbying Act and the Conflict of Interest Act, especially concerning public servants moving between government and the private sector. Inspector Frédéric Pincince from the RCMP explained the RCMP's role in investigating potential violations of the Lobbying Act, noting that most investigations are initiated following referrals from the Commissioner of Lobbying.

The committee began by continuing its review of the proposed law about lobbying. Two witnesses, Joe Jordan and Dan Hurley, shared their ideas on how to improve the law. Mr. Jordan, who has experience as a politician, staffer, and lobbyist, said Canada's lobbying rules are among the best globally but could be made even better. He suggested clarifying who counts as an "in-house lobbyist" and rethinking the five-year ban on former political staff from lobbying. Mr. Hurley, representing public affairs professionals, emphasized that the law needs to be clear, fair, and up-to-date to promote transparency. Both witnesses discussed specific recommendations. Mr. Jordan advised against expanding the list of senior government workers that lobbyists must report contact with, saying it would create too much paperwork without clear benefits. He also warned that changing rules about who starts a conversation could limit how committee members do their job. Mr. Hurley's group found that many people are confused by some parts of the law, which can make it hard to follow. They also worried that too many rules might discourage smaller groups and non-profits from talking to the government. However, the meeting then shifted dramatically to a different topic. A committee member, Michael Barrett, introduced a motion asking for detailed monthly reports from the government about how the Prime Minister's conflict of interest rules are being checked. The motion also requested all of the Prime Minister's international travel plans and meeting details since he took office. Conservative members argued this information was crucial for government accountability and transparency. Liberal committee members strongly disagreed with the motion, calling it unnecessary and a waste of time and resources. They argued that the Prime Minister already follows strict ethics rules, has a blind trust, and that government officials have already provided information to the committee on a regular basis. They also highlighted the importance of the Prime Minister's international travel for Canada's economy and global standing. The debate on this motion took up a significant portion of the meeting, with no decision reached. The Chair suspended the meeting, indicating the discussion would continue at a later time.

The Canadian parliamentary committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met to continue debating a proposed law to study the connection between the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and a company called Alto. The committee wanted to investigate if the Minister had a conflict of interest, because his wife works at Alto, while he was involved in government decisions about the company. The committee had been debating this for over 14 hours already. Committee members discussed whether to invite executives from Alto, including the CEO, to testify. Some members felt it was important to hear from Alto to understand the situation fully. Other members argued that the Ethics Commissioner had already looked into the matter and found no conflict of interest, so it wasn't necessary to call Alto executives. They also worried that inviting Alto executives would turn the meeting into a discussion about the merits of the Alto project itself, which wasn't the committee's focus. After a very long debate, a vote was held to remove the Alto executives from the list of witnesses. The committee ultimately agreed to invite the Ethics Commissioner and the Minister of Finance to testify for one hour each, during the week of May 25th. The committee will study the Minister's actions and whether he properly removed himself from decisions related to Alto, given his wife's job there.

The Canadian parliamentary committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met to discuss the Lobbying Act. The first witness was Michael Harvey, the Registrar of Lobbyists for British Columbia, who spoke about B.C.'s Lobbyists Transparency Act. He highlighted the importance of transparency, simplicity in the law, and the need for registration by default, where most people who lobby have to register. He also talked about monthly reports for communications with senior public officials and the ability to issue penalties for not following the rules. Committee members asked about the impact on small businesses and the effectiveness of the two-year cooling-off period for former public office holders. Next, representatives from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shared insights on lobbying regulations. Elsa Pilichowski, Nejla Saula, and Pauline Bertrand discussed the OECD's recommendations for transparency and integrity in lobbying. They noted that Canada has a strong framework but could improve in areas like disclosing who ultimately benefits from lobbying and providing more details on grassroots lobbying efforts. The OECD representatives also emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to public integrity, including managing conflicts of interest and addressing foreign influence. Committee members questioned the OECD representatives about potential conflicts of interest involving family members of public office holders and ways to strengthen independent oversight. They also discussed the need for a unified anti-corruption strategy in Canada. The OECD representatives suggested that Canada could consider implementing administrative monetary penalties and improving coordination between agencies responsible for public integrity. Overall, the committee explored ways to enhance Canada's Lobbying Act by learning from British Columbia's experience and incorporating international best practices recommended by the OECD. The discussion focused on increasing transparency, ensuring compliance, and addressing emerging challenges in the lobbying landscape. Finally, a Conservative member sought unanimous consent to study the Minister of Finance's connection to a company called Alto, but the Liberals denied consent.

The Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics Committee met to discuss a motion regarding the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and the Alto high-speed rail project. The motion, introduced by Conservative MP Michael Barrett, proposed a study into the connection between the Minister and Alto, focusing on the Minister's claims of recusal from government decisions related to Alto, and to invite the Ethics Commissioner, Alto executives, and the Minister to testify. Barrett raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest due to the Minister's partner's position at Alto and the Minister's involvement in decisions and votes related to the project. Liberal committee members, including Linda Lapointe and Greg Fergus, spoke about the benefits of the Alto project. Lapointe emphasized the economic and environmental advantages of the high-speed rail, while Fergus expressed concern that the motion could hinder the project's progress. Bloc Québécois MP Luc Thériault supported the study, questioning the Minister's actions and the transparency of the situation. He also raised concerns about the impact of the project on farmland and the lack of consultation with stakeholders. An amendment was proposed by Liberal MP Abdelhaq Sari to remove the line stating that the committee would report to the House that it is undertaking this study. This led to further debate, with Liberal members arguing that the motion was a political game and a waste of time, while Conservative and Bloc members insisted on the importance of transparency and accountability. The meeting was adjourned and resumed the next day, with the debate continuing.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met to begin a review of the Lobbying Act. Nancy Bélanger, the Commissioner of Lobbying, presented 21 recommendations for improving the proposed law. She wants to make lobbying more transparent, strengthen enforcement, and make the system work better. Bélanger explained that her office is responsible for keeping track of lobbyists, educating people about lobbying rules, and making sure people follow the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct. She discussed the current rules for when someone needs to register as a lobbyist, noting that the threshold was recently lowered from 32 hours a month to 8 hours a month, but ideally should be zero. She also mentioned that her office has sent four cases to the RCMP for further investigation. Committee members asked Bélanger about various aspects of the Lobbying Act and her recommendations. They discussed the lobbying rules in British Columbia, which she sees as a good model. They also talked about potential loopholes in the proposed law, such as how the rules apply to people who volunteer to lobby or who used to work in government. Committee members and Bélanger agreed on the importance of transparency and ensuring that Canadians know who is trying to influence government decisions. The committee will continue to hear from witnesses as part of its review of the Lobbying Act, and Ms. Bélanger will return at the end of the study.