Mandate
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information,
Privacy and Ethics (“the Committee”) studies and reports on matters
referred to it by the House
of Commons, or on topics the Committee itself chooses to examine. It is
a permanent committee established by the Standing
Orders of the House. Legislation, departmental activities and spending,
and other matters related to the general subject matter of the Committee may
be referred to it from time to time. On 14 December 2004, the House of Commons
concurred in the 20th
report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House
Affairs, which established the Committee’s mandate.
Powers
Under Standing
Order 108(1), standing committees can examine any matters referred to them
by the House of Commons or as required in legislation. They can report to the
House, send for persons or records, and may delegate their powers to subcommittees.
They can sit whether the House is sitting or adjourned, and may sit jointly
with other standing committees.
The Committee studies matters related to reports of the Information
Commissioner of Canada, the Privacy
Commissioner of Canada, and the Ethics
Commissioner, with respect to the last-mentioned official’s responsibilities
under the Parliament of Canada Act relating to public office holders;
and reports tabled pursuant to the Lobbyists
Registration Act. The Committee’s mandate is set out in section
108(3)(h) of the Standing Orders.