Pat Martin moved, — That the Committee direct the Research Staff to draft a report to the House of Commons, that the Committee accepts the Proposed “Open Government Act” as drafted by the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada with the following changes:
1. That Section 23 be clarified as to the meaning of Solicitor Client Privilege, and for the limitation of the use of this section.
2. That Section 54 be amended to remove the provision for a two-thirds majority support in the House of Commons and Senate and be replaced with a provision for a Search Committee, which would have representation from all Parties in the House of Commons.
3. That Section 77 (2) be amended to indicate that all bodies identified in (a) to (e), with the passing of this legislation, would be subject to the Act. Further, if the government of the day wishes for a group to be excluded from this Act, for any reason, then additional legislation would have to be passed by Parliament for this to occur on a case by case basis.
It is further recommended to the House of Commons that it instruct the Justice Minister to table legislation within the House of Commons, based on the provisions of this Act and these proposed amendments by the 15th of December, 2005.Debate arose thereon.