Information & Ethics committee  I want to clarify one thing. When we talk about moving from paper-based to electronic-based or digitally based systems, we're talking about a way to manage the information internally, first, so that we can be more efficient and faster at processing the information. One of the challenges we have right now is that we do not have a single database where we collect all the information.

Information & Ethics committee  No. That's an issue being looked at, as we speak, by central agencies, as to how you would standardize the information across government, and how you would put that on the web in fact for easier access by Canadians. The government and central agencies haven't proposed anything specific yet, and a decision has not been taken with regard to that.

Information & Ethics committee  Issues related to national security, of course. Every time you need to speak to a foreign government about security—if it's routine matters, it may be easier—or intelligence issues and how that information was gathered, collected, and so on, that makes the transfer of information or the release of that information extremely difficult and sensitive.

Information & Ethics committee  We inform the minister--correct me if I'm wrong--72 hours before the demand is released.

Information & Ethics committee  The money did not come from Passport Canada, since the Passport Canada budget is protected. It's a revolving fund. None of the money that comes to Passport Canada out of the fee structure is transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs. There is a barrier between these two budgets.

Information & Ethics committee  We have 12 people now dealing with the backlog.

Information & Ethics committee  Madame McCulloch may explain the process in detail, but my understanding is that the request comes to the access to information office. It does not come to the minister's office. Therefore, the minister's office is not aware of requests that we receive as they come into the department.

Information & Ethics committee  It's me, it's the deputy minister, and it's the third...we're three deputy ministers at Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chairman, there may be the impression that nothing has happened since 2005, but I can confirm to you that in 2005 and 2006, the department was spending a bit more than $2 million on ATIP. For the current fiscal year, the department will be spending $8.2 million to respond to ATIP.

Information & Ethics committee  As deputy ministers, we are accountable for dealing with the problems.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm the associate deputy minister.

Information & Ethics committee  I will take personal responsibility for this.

Information & Ethics committee  Currently, I would highlight six components. One of the main difficulties is globalization. Access to information requests deal with a range of issues and with the relationship between Canada and the United States on a large number of topics. Potentially, they can even get into the disarmament programs that Canada may be financing in some parts of the former Soviet Union.

Information & Ethics committee  Clearly, in discussions that go on in the course of international diplomacy, those involved expect the comments they make to us to be protected. Discussions and remarks are often very direct. In order to make sure that our counterparts understand clearly what they are being told, we speak very directly more often than in a roundabout way, though that happens too.

Information & Ethics committee  As you may know, the government releases a report on a regular basis on the activities of the Government of Canada and Afghanistan from the military, diplomatic, and aid standpoints. It focuses on the benchmarks the government established years ago and how, on a quarterly basis, the Government of Canada meets or does not meet those deadlines.