Speech (committee meeting)

{
    "time": "2010-11-30 15:40:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mr. G\u00e9rald Cossette (Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade)",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"2236149\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Thank you, Mr. Chair.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236150\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236151\" data-originallang=\"fr\">As Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, I am pleased to appear before you today. I understand that my department was invited to come before you today as a result of the Information Commissioner's ratings as part of her special report to Parliament in April 2010 entitled <em>Out of Time: 2008-2009 Report Cards and Systemic Issues Affecting Access to Information in Canada</em>.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236152\" data-originallang=\"en\">I welcome the opportunity to provide additional information, as well as my department's progress report, in response to recommendations made by the Information Commissioner.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236153\" data-originallang=\"en\">At the outset, I would like to assure this committee that in accordance with the principles of openness, accountability, and transparency, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is committed to respecting applicants' rights under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236154\" data-originallang=\"en\">As the Information Commissioner has reported, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade faces unique challenges associated with internal and external consultations related to Canada's national security and international relations. DFAIT acts as a central agency in reviewing implications for international relations under sections 13 and 15 of the Access to Information Act. Other government departments must consult DFAIT prior to releasing records that affect international affairs.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236155\" data-originallang=\"fr\">In 2008-09, 42% of the overall access to information and privacy (ATIP) workload at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade consisted of consultations from other government departments.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236156\" data-originallang=\"fr\">The Information Commissioner acknowledged that DFAIT was \u201cseverely hampered by its overwhelming workload\u201d.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236157\" data-originallang=\"fr\">She also noted our growing complexity of requests and related consultations as well as the challenge of a rotational workforce.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236158\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Over a four-year span from 2004-2005 to 2008-2009, there was a steady annual increase in requests for access and consultations under both the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, for a total increase of 78%. Since then, there continues to be an array of very sensitive and challenging ATIP requests.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236159\" data-originallang=\"fr\">With the chronic shortage of ATIP specialists in the federal government, the ATIP demands surpass the available experienced resources. Despite this, the Information Commissioner acknowledged that DFAIT was able to process almost 1,000 more ATIP requests in 2008-2009 than the year before, as well as make a number of process improvements.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236160\" data-originallang=\"fr\">For example, improvements since 2008 include:</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236161\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Firs there is a streamlined, single gateway ATIP-tasking process across the department, which has established just over 100 dedicated ATIP liaison officers in all branches and bureaus of the department. These liaison officers also receive continuous ATIP training to ensure ongoing compliance.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236162\" data-originallang=\"en\">Second, there is a department-wide ATIP awareness program to ensure that officials across the department understand their roles and responsibilities vis-\u00e0-vis ATIP. It includes customized ATIP exemption training for subject matter experts. In 2010 alone, the ATIP office, and that includes the officials at Passport Canada, delivered just over 300 separate ATIP-related training sessions.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236163\" data-originallang=\"en\">Third, monthly ATIP performance reports to senior management have improved overall departmental understanding and commitment to ATIP compliance. The program areas respond, on average, to almost 90% of all ATIP requests on time, that is, within five working days.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236164\" data-originallang=\"en\">Fourth, our ATIP professional development program is addressing recruitment and retention issues. This program has been very popular and is clearly demonstrating its benefits, given the number of well-trained, productive, and committed ATIP analysts we have.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236165\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Lastly, the ATIP office revamped its internal guidelines for the processing of requests and, more recently, introduced ATIP processing service standards to ensure that more attention is being paid to legislative due dates.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236166\" data-originallang=\"fr\">However, the reality remains that the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade had been carrying forward from year to year a growing backlog of ATIP requests that are beyond the legislative time frames. This was something not only of concern to the Information Commissioner but of great concern to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as well.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236167\" data-originallang=\"en\">As such, I am pleased to inform you that in June 2010, the department reallocated $2.7 million of additional ATIP funding. This injection of new funding will, among other things, permit the department to clear the backlog of ATIP files by summer 2011 and to build additional permanent capacity to meet expected demands.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236168\" data-originallang=\"en\">Experienced ATIP consultants were hired in July 2010 to work on the backlog project, and real progress is being seen. So far, the backlog team alone has closed 135 late ATIP files and has cleared 95,000 pages. In addition, 10 new full-time positions were recently created in the ATIP division and are in the process of being staffed.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236169\" data-originallang=\"en\">These efforts, among many others, have shown some key overall ATIP improvements so far in fiscal year 2010-11. For example, the number of late files for those new requests received since April 1, 2010, has dropped to approximately 5%. Our turnaround time to respond to consultations from other institutions has gone from 110 days to an average of under 60 days. These improvements are encouraging.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236170\" data-originallang=\"fr\">I might add that the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade follows Treasury Board Secretariat best practices in its administration of the acts. For example, the director of the ATIP office has full authority delegated by the head of the institution for the administration of the acts. The director's position is two positions removed from the deputy head in the organizational structure.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236171\" data-originallang=\"fr\">The department has sound practices for the processing of all access to information requests. A collaborative approach exists between the ATIP office, the offices of the heads and deputy heads of the institution, Communications, Parliamentary Affairs and program officials.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236172\" data-originallang=\"fr\">I can assure the members of the committee that the procedures followed by my department do not allow for any political engagement in the redaction of documents. I can state categorically that I have never seen evidence of inappropriate ministerial involvement in the release of information nor has any such involvement been brought to my attention.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236173\" data-originallang=\"en\"> I can assure the members of the committee that the procedures followed by my department do not allow for any political engagement in the redaction of documents. I can state categorically that I have never seen evidence of inappropriate ministerial involvement in the release of information, nor has any such involvement been brought to my attention.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236174\" data-originallang=\"en\">As a final remark, I would like to reiterate that DFAIT is very committed to responding to access to information requests and is assisting all applicants to exercise their rights under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236175\" data-originallang=\"en\">I'm happy to take any questions or comments that committee members may have.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236176\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Thank you.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"2236149\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Merci, monsieur le pr\u00e9sident.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236150\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Bonjour, mesdames et messieurs.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236151\" data-originallang=\"fr\">En ma qualit\u00e9 de sous-ministre d\u00e9l\u00e9gu\u00e9 des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res, je suis heureux de compara\u00eetre devant le comit\u00e9 aujourd'hui. Je suis conscient que mon minist\u00e8re a \u00e9t\u00e9 invit\u00e9 \u00e0 se pr\u00e9senter devant vous aujourd'hui en raison des cotes attribu\u00e9es par la commissaire \u00e0 l'information dans le cadre de son rapport sp\u00e9cial au Parlement d'avril 2010 intitul\u00e9 <em>Hors d\u00e9lai: Fiches de rendement 2008-2009 \u2013 Probl\u00e8mes syst\u00e9miques influant sur l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information au Canada</em>.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236152\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je suis tr\u00e8s heureux d\u2019avoir l\u2019occasion de vous pr\u00e9senter des renseignements suppl\u00e9mentaires, de m\u00eame que le rapport d\u2019\u00e9tape de mon minist\u00e8re, pour donner suite aux recommandations de la commissaire \u00e0 l\u2019information. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236153\" data-originallang=\"en\">En premier lieu, je tiens \u00e0 assurer le comit\u00e9 que, conform\u00e9ment aux principes d\u2019ouverture, d\u2019obligation de rendre des comptes et de transparence, le minist\u00e8re des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res et du Commerce international est d\u00e9termin\u00e9 \u00e0 respecter les droits des demandeurs en vertu de la Loi sur l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information et de la Loi sur la protection des renseignements personnels.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236154\" data-originallang=\"en\">Comme la commissaire \u00e0 l\u2019information l\u2019a signal\u00e9, le minist\u00e8re des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res et du Commerce international affronte des difficult\u00e9s uniques li\u00e9es aux consultations internes et externes concernant la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 nationale et les relations internationales du Canada. Le MAECI agit en tant qu\u2019organisme central \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9chelle du gouvernement pour l\u2019examen des incidences sur les relations internationales en vertu des articles 13 et 15 de la Loi sur l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information. Les autres minist\u00e8res sont tenus de consulter le MAECI avant de divulguer les documents qui ont des r\u00e9percussions sur la conduite des affaires internationales.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236155\" data-originallang=\"fr\">En 2008-2009, 42 p. 100 du volume de travail de l'unit\u00e9 charg\u00e9e de l'acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l'information et de la protection des renseignements personnels, ou AIPRP, au minist\u00e8re des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res et du Commerce international consistait en des demandes de consultations en provenance des autres minist\u00e8res.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236156\" data-originallang=\"fr\">La commissaire \u00e0 l\u2019information a reconnu que l\u2019\u00ab \u00e9crasante charge de travail du MAECI [\u2026] a lourdement entrav\u00e9 \u00bb son rendement.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236157\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Elle a aussi fait observer que les demandes et consultations connexes deviennent de plus en plus complexes et que le roulement du personnel permutant, au sein du minist\u00e8re des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res et du Commerce international, pose un d\u00e9fi suppl\u00e9mentaire.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236158\" data-originallang=\"fr\"> Au cours de la p\u00e9riode de quatre ans allant de 2004-2005 \u00e0 2008-2009, il y a eu une augmentation annuelle croissante des demandes d\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information et de consultations en vertu de la Loi sur l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information et de la Loi sur la protection des renseignements personnels. Cette croissance repr\u00e9sente pour la p\u00e9riode cit\u00e9e une hausse totale de 78 p. 100. Depuis, nous recevons toujours un nombre important de demandes d\u2019AIPRP de nature tr\u00e8s sensible et posant des difficult\u00e9s.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236159\" data-originallang=\"fr\">En outre, avec la p\u00e9nurie chronique de sp\u00e9cialistes au gouvernement f\u00e9d\u00e9ral, le personnel exp\u00e9riment\u00e9 disponible ne peut r\u00e9pondre \u00e0 toutes les demandes d\u2019AIPRP. Malgr\u00e9 cela, la commissaire \u00e0 l\u2019information a reconnu que le MAECI avait \u00e9t\u00e9 en mesure de traiter en 2008-2009 presque 1 000 demandes d\u2019AIPRP de plus qu\u2019au cours de l\u2019exercice pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent et qu'il avait r\u00e9ussi \u00e0 apporter des am\u00e9liorations au processus de traitement des demandes.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236160\" data-originallang=\"fr\"> \u00c0 titre d\u2019exemple d\u2019am\u00e9liorations r\u00e9alis\u00e9es depuis 2008, j'aimerais souligner ce qui suit: </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236161\" data-originallang=\"en\">Premi\u00e8rement, il y a un processus simplifi\u00e9 et \u00e0 guichet unique d\u2019attribution des t\u00e2ches \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9chelle du minist\u00e8re, qui a permis d\u2019\u00e9tablir un peu plus de 100 agents de liaison sp\u00e9cialis\u00e9s d\u2019AIPRP dans tous les secteurs et directions g\u00e9n\u00e9rales du minist\u00e8re. Ces agents de liaison re\u00e7oivent aussi une formation continue en AIPRP afin de garantir une conformit\u00e9 constante.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236162\" data-originallang=\"en\">Deuxi\u00e8mement, il y a un programme de sensibilisation \u00e0 l\u2019AIPRP \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9chelle minist\u00e9rielle de mani\u00e8re \u00e0 ce que les employ\u00e9s du minist\u00e8re comprennent leurs r\u00f4les et leurs responsabilit\u00e9s en mati\u00e8re d\u2019AIPRP, ce qui comporte une formation personnalis\u00e9e sur les exemptions relatives \u00e0 l\u2019AIPRP pour les sp\u00e9cialistes en la mati\u00e8re. En 2010 seulement, le Bureau de l\u2019AIPRP, ce qui comprend les agents de Passeport Canada, ont donn\u00e9 un peu plus de 300 s\u00e9ances de formation distinctes relatives \u00e0 l\u2019AIPRP.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236163\" data-originallang=\"en\">Troisi\u00e8mement, les rapports mensuels de rendement en mati\u00e8re d\u2019AIPRP \u00e0 l\u2019intention de la haute direction ont permis de mieux faire comprendre et respecter les exigences relatives \u00e0 l\u2019AIPRP au minist\u00e8re. Les zones de programme r\u00e9pondent en moyenne \u00e0 pr\u00e8s de 90 p. 100 des attributions de t\u00e2ches de l\u2019AIPRP \u00e0 temps, c\u2019est-\u00e0-dire dans les cinq jours ouvrables. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236164\" data-originallang=\"en\">Quatri\u00e8mement, notre programme de perfectionnement professionnel en mati\u00e8re d\u2019AIPRP traite les questions de recrutement et de conservation du personnel. Ce programme a \u00e9t\u00e9 tr\u00e8s populaire et fait clairement valoir ses avantages \u00e9tant donn\u00e9 le nombre d\u2019analystes d\u2019AIPRP bien form\u00e9s, productifs et engag\u00e9s que nous comptons. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236165\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Finalement, le Bureau de l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l'information et de la protection des renseignements personnels a r\u00e9vis\u00e9 ses directives internes, de m\u00eame que les normes de services relatives au traitement des demandes r\u00e9cemment introduites pour faire en sorte qu\u2019une attention accrue soit port\u00e9e aux dates l\u00e9gislatives pr\u00e9vues.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236166\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Il n\u2019en reste pas moins que le minist\u00e8re des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res et du Commerce international tra\u00eenait depuis des ann\u00e9es un arri\u00e9r\u00e9 croissant de demandes d\u2019acc\u00e8s exc\u00e9dant les d\u00e9lais accord\u00e9s par la loi. Cette situation inqui\u00e9tait non seulement la commissaire \u00e0 l\u2019information, mais constituait aussi une pr\u00e9occupation pour le minist\u00e8re des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res et du Commerce international.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236167\" data-originallang=\"en\">\u00c0 ce titre, je suis heureux de vous informer qu\u2019en juin 2010, le minist\u00e8re a r\u00e9affect\u00e9 2,7 millions de dollars en financement suppl\u00e9mentaire pour l\u2019AIPRP. Ces nouveaux fonds permettront entre autres au minist\u00e8re de s\u2019occuper d\u2019ici l\u2019\u00e9t\u00e9 2011 des dossiers d\u2019AIPRP accumul\u00e9s et d\u2019obtenir une capacit\u00e9 permanente suppl\u00e9mentaire en vue de r\u00e9pondre aux demandes pr\u00e9vues.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236168\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Des consultants d\u2019exp\u00e9rience en AIPRP ont \u00e9t\u00e9 recrut\u00e9s en juillet 2010 pour travailler sur le projet relatif au traitement des arri\u00e9r\u00e9s, et des progr\u00e8s r\u00e9els sont observ\u00e9s. Jusqu\u2019\u00e0 pr\u00e9sent, l\u2019\u00e9quipe charg\u00e9e du traitement des arri\u00e9r\u00e9s a, \u00e0 elle seule, ferm\u00e9 135 dossiers d\u2019AIPRP en retard et a trait\u00e9 95 000 pages. En outre, 10 nouveaux postes \u00e0 temps plein ont r\u00e9cemment \u00e9t\u00e9 cr\u00e9\u00e9s au sein de la Direction de l\u2019AIPRP et seront dot\u00e9s prochainement.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236169\" data-originallang=\"en\">Ces efforts, parmi bien d\u2019autres, se sont traduits par des am\u00e9liorations g\u00e9n\u00e9rales cl\u00e9s en mati\u00e8re d\u2019AIPRP au cours de l\u2019exercice financier 2010-2011. Par exemple, le nombre de dossiers en retard concernant les nouvelles demandes re\u00e7ues depuis le 1<sup>er</sup> avril 2010 a chut\u00e9 \u00e0 environ 5 p. 100, et notre temps de traitement pour r\u00e9pondre aux demandes de consultations des autres institutions est pass\u00e9 de 110 jours \u00e0 moins de 60 jours, en moyenne. Ces am\u00e9liorations sont en effet encourageantes. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236170\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Je pourrais ajouter que le minist\u00e8re des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res et du Commerce international se conforme aux pratiques exemplaires du Conseil du Tr\u00e9sor en ce qui concerne l'administration des lois. Par exemple, la directrice du Bureau de l'acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l'information et de la protection des renseignements personnels a l'autorit\u00e9 enti\u00e8re, d\u00e9l\u00e9gu\u00e9e par le chef de l'institution, pour l'administration des lois. Le poste de directrice est s\u00e9par\u00e9 de deux niveaux hi\u00e9rarchiques de celui de l'administrateur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral, dans la structure organisationnelle.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236171\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Le minist\u00e8re a des pratiques saines pour le traitement des demandes d'acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l'information. Une approche de collaboration existe entre le Bureau de l'acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l'information et de la protection des renseignements personnels, les bureaux des responsables et des administrateurs g\u00e9n\u00e9raux de l'institution, les communications, les affaires parlementaires et les repr\u00e9sentants des programmes.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236172\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Je peux donner aux membres du comit\u00e9 l'assurance que la proc\u00e9dure suivie par mon minist\u00e8re ne permet aucune ing\u00e9rence politique dans la r\u00e9daction des documents. Je peux aussi affirmer cat\u00e9goriquement que jamais je n'ai vu d'intervention minist\u00e9rielle indue dans la rel\u00e2che d'informations, et on ne m'en a rapport\u00e9 aucune.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236173\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je peux donner aux membres du comit\u00e9 l\u2019assurance que la proc\u00e9dure suivie par mon minist\u00e8re ne permet aucune ing\u00e9rence politique dans la r\u00e9daction des documents. Je peux aussi affirmer cat\u00e9goriquement que je n\u2019ai jamais vu d\u2019intervention minist\u00e9rielle indue dans la divulgation d\u2019informations, et on ne m\u2019en a rapport\u00e9e aucune.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236174\" data-originallang=\"en\">En conclusion, je souhaite r\u00e9it\u00e9rer que le MAECI s\u2019est engag\u00e9 fermement \u00e0 r\u00e9pondre aux demandes d\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information et aide tous les demandeurs \u00e0 exercer leurs droits en vertu de la Loi sur l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information et de la Loi sur la protection des renseignements personnels.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236175\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je serais heureux de r\u00e9pondre \u00e0 vos questions et commentaires. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"2236176\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Merci.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/committees/ethics/40-3/35/gerald-cossette-1/",
    "politician_url": null,
    "politician_membership_url": null,
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "3602420",
    "document_url": "/committees/ethics/40-3/35/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fcommittees%2Fethics%2F40-3%2F35%2F"
    }
}