Mr. David McGuinty (House Leader of the Official Opposition, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, during question period, the government House leader bandied about a handbook of some kind, a binder. I wonder if the hon. government House leader would be prepared to table that document immediately. It is something that he referred to at least once if not twice during his answers to questions put to him today.
Hon. John Baird (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I can tell my colleague, the House leader for the official opposition, that this book comes from former Liberal minister Jim Peterson’s former director of parliamentary affairs, Lou Riccoboni, who is identified as the interferer in chief.
Tab A outlines the general attempts by the Liberal minister’s staff to interfere in ATI requests. Tab B provides summary statistical information on delays to ATI requests by the minister’s office. Tab C provides written documentary evidence demonstrating that the minister’s director of parliamentary affairs had to sign off in order to release access to information requests to non-partisan public servants. Members will see that Mr. Riccoboni had to physically okay the release of these requests. The first page in Tab C outlines and provides a template on how Minister Peterson’s office would interfere with ATI requests.
There are also numerous examples that I can provide. I would hope that all members of the House would look into this important matter.
The Speaker:
I think the question was whether the minister would table the document, fascinating as it may be to hear it read. Perhaps the minister could clarify that point because I know we are going to get it again if he does not.
Hon. John Baird:
Pardon me, Mr. Speaker. My earphone was not working. Could you repeat.
The Speaker:
I wonder if the minister is going to table the document. Reading from it is fine. He can read the whole thing if he wants. The question was whether he was going to table it. That is what we are waiting for.
Hon. John Baird:
Mr. Speaker, before you asked me if I would table it, you said I could read it if I want. Mr. Speaker, I want.
Mr. David McGuinty:
Mr. Speaker, for the third time, through you, could we ask the minister to just give us a straight answer. Is he going to table the document or not?
Hon. John Baird:
Mr. Speaker, yes.
