Earlier this morning, Liberal MPs Ralph Goodale, Dominic LeBlanc and Rodger Cuzner reached an historic agreement with the government and the Bloc Québécois to access previously classified documents regarding the transfer of Afghan detainees.
“This is a victory for Parliament and for democracy in the future. It’s the first time the government has accepted the supremacy of Parliament,” said Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale. “The government has surrendered its unilateral control over these critical documents. Today’s agreement rightfully restores Parliament’s role in keeping the government accountable.”
“Today’s agreement respects MPs’ right to see documents that the government – until now – has kept secret on the grounds of national security,” said Liberal Justice Critic Dominic LeBlanc. “The agreement further signifies that MPs can be trusted with sensitive information and that all Parliamentarians share a concern for protecting national security where these concerns are legitimate.”
A number of important measures were agreed upon, including:
- Members of Parliament now get to see the documents and report back to the public on a regular basis;
- Even in cases of alleged solicitor-client privilege or Cabinet confidentiality, a Parliament-appointed panel not under the control of the government will rule on whether or not these claims are legitimate; and,
- MPs will be able to review documents previously withheld on the grounds of national security and decide their relevance to the Afghan detainee issue.
This agreement stems from a December 2009 motion by the Hon. Ujjal Dosanjh, in which he pressed the government for more information on the treatment of Afghan detainees. This motion led to an historic ruling by Speaker Peter Milliken that forced the government to cooperate with opposition parties to develop a mechanism to review sensitive documents.
The New Democrats have refused to sign the agreement, despite the fact that it covers legal documents and cabinet records, and committee members can report at any time on any matters related to process.
“Today, the NDP have shown once again why they can’t be taken seriously,” said Liberal Defence Critic Ujjal Dosanjh. “They can’t be counted on to be serious about important and complex issues, walking away from negotiations before they’ve concluded and showing serious misjudgement on international affairs all in the same day.”
The Hon. Stéphane Dion will be the Liberal representative on the committee being established, and the Hon. Bryon Wilfert will serve as the Liberal alternate.
