Information & Ethics committee  I took training on it when I started, but I have not read it all.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr..... Mr. Chair, I'd like to read the summons that brought me here today: Take notice that you are hereby summoned and required to appear in Ottawa and give evidence before the Standing Committee Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics of the House of Commons of Canada on matters relating to its study of Allegations of interference in access to information requests on Thursday May 6, Centre Block....

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you for your question. But I do not think it is relevant, I do not think it has any bearing on the matter for which I was summoned here. It has nothing to do with this subject, the pertinence of this question.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair. I believe it's absolutely important to be open and transparent with the work that I do. Again, I have ultimate respect for the process and the committee here, and that's why I'm here. I am.... Again, I was put in a difficult position and what has happened here is that I've broken my confidentiality order to be here today--not to be here, but with how I've testified.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chair, I am being asked to interpret the law, and that is not my job. As I have already responded, I did not have delegated authority, and therefore any decisions on how a document was released were never mine.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you for the question. I had no role to play in that.

Information & Ethics committee  There were no directions from anybody. I did send, in a hurry, a stupid e-mail, as I would put it. I refer you again to the fact that there was no delegated authority. It was a mistake on my part and that's all I have to say.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, absolutely.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chair, thank you for the question. Again, that's precisely why I refused to come in the first place—or in the second place, I should say. Of course, my respect for Parliament and this process...when I was summoned, I was not going to put myself in a position to not show up and then be in contempt.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes. Thank you for the question. Absolutely.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you for the question. I don't think I.... I did not interfere in the procedure. The commissioner is currently conducting an investigation that will determine whether or not there was a violation.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you for the question. Which memo specifically?

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, I am aware of those memos.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm sorry. Could you be more precise in the instructions given?