House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota says the Trudeau government has not complied with an order to produce unredacted documents related to the firing of two scientists from Canada's highest security laboratory.
In a ruling Wednesday, Rota confirms, as opposition parties have contended, that the Commons and its committees have an unlimited power to order the production of any documents they please, even those with national security implications.
But Rota says that's not an acceptable alternative since the national security and intelligence committee, a relatively new body created by the Trudeau government, is not a standing committee of Parliament. The Winnipeg lab is Canada's only Level Four laboratory, designed to deal safely with deadly contagious germs such as Ebola.
Nevertheless, opposition parties want to see unredacted documents about the transfer of viruses to the institute and the subsequent firing of the two scientists. Rota ruled that there is no limit on the power of the House or its committees to order the production of sensitive documents and to determine how they're to be handled..
Typically, such a ruling is followed by either a motion of censure or a motion to refer the matter to a committee for further study.
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