Muslim panelists 'not available,' unredacted document says
Release of talking point 'deemed reasonable due to passage of time' after CBC News complaint
By Louise Elliott, CBC News
Posted: Sep 8, 2012 5:32 AM ET
Last Updated: Sep 8, 2012 5:26 AM ET
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, left, met with the Aga Khan, leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims, in September to discuss the government's proposed Office of Religious Freedoms. Critics suggest non-Judeo-Christian religions have been under-represented in consultations for the office. (Department of Foreign Affairs)
The Department of Foreign Affairs has released previously blacked-out information from a document about a closed-door consultation last fall about its yet-to-be-unveiled Office of Religious Freedom.
The decision was made after CBC News complained about the redaction to Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault, who's responsible for enforcing the Access to Information Act. Muslim panelists "not available," unredacted document says
The document showed scripted talking points for department officials about the controversial consultation in Ottawa last October.
The gathering of about 100 hand-picked participants included an address by a panel of six speakers, four of whom were Christian, one Jewish and one Baha'i.
The unredacted talking points address the hypothetical media question of why there were no Islamic panellists:
"If pressed – Why were there no panellists of the Islamic faith?"
The scripted answer:
"We invited panelists [sic] from the Muslim community who, unfortunately, were not available."
It is unclear why the department blacked out the lines in the first place, as they were presumably designed for public consumption. In a letter the department wrote: "The information that was exempted has now been deemed reasonable due to the passage of time."
The department originally justified the redaction under subsection 21(1)(a) and (b) of the Access to Information Act, which covers advice or recommendations for a government or minister and consultations in which government officials or the minister participate.
In a letter to CBC News, the information commissioner wrote that the information was "properly withheld" at the time of the request last November.
Share Tools
For The Record: Federal Court ruling on robocalls and electoral fraud by Kady O'Malley May. 23, 2013 9:16 PM Read the full decision here.
Top News Headlines
- Greg Weston: Senate scandal may be Harper's worst hour
- The widening Senate scandal that the prime minister flippantly tried to dismiss as a 'distraction' just days ago has instead become arguably Stephen Harper's worst hour. more »
- Washington state bridge collapse injures 3
- A Washington state bridge over a river collapsed last night, dumping two vehicles into the water and sparking a rescue effort by boats and divers who searched the chilly waterway north of Seattle. more »
- 3D printers give rise to 'desktop manufacturing'
- Customizable objects from plastic dollhouse furniture to medical prosthetics can now be designed and printed out by almost anyone at the press of a button, and is going to lead to an 'explosion of new stuff,' predicts author Chris Anderson. more »
- Jet with smoking engine lands safely at Heathrow
- A British Airways jet made an emergency landing at London's Heathrow Airport Friday after developing a technical problem after takeoff. TV footage showed smoke streaming from one of the engines. more »
Must Watch
Latest Politics News Headlines
- Federal Court won't remove MPs over robocall allegations
- The Federal Court says it won't throw six MPs out of their seats over allegations of widespread vote suppression through automated robocalls in the 2011 federal election. But Judge Richard Mosley did find that fraud occurred in the election. more »
- Greg Weston: Senate scandal may be Harper's worst hour
- The widening Senate scandal that the prime minister flippantly tried to dismiss as a 'distraction' just days ago has instead become arguably Stephen Harper's worst hour. more »
- Mike Duffy says he wants to give Canadians 'the whole story'
- Senator Mike Duffy says he wants a "full and open" inquiry so Canadians can get all the facts about the scandal that has rocked the Senate and the Prime Minister's Office and that he has no plans to resign. more »
- PMO denies Senate appointments on hold pending reform
- A Conservative MP said Thursday the prime minister will not appoint new senators until there is "substantial reform" to the Senate — but a spokesman for Stephen Harper swiftly contradicted the claim. more »
- Duffy expense claims reveal more about campaign travel
- Election spending records show additional days Senator Mike Duffy spent on the campaign trail in the 2011 election, including days he told the Senate he was on business, and days on which Deloitte auditors couldn't track him. more »
The National
The House
- Questions mount for Harper and chief of staff Nigel Wright in Senate scandal May. 18, 2013 1:15 PM This week on The House, with Senators Wallin and Duffy now out of the Conservative caucus, we get reaction from NDP Ethics critic Charlie Angus. We also hear directly from Senator Patrick Brazeau who says the Conservatives have thrown him under the bus. Plus we speak with B.C. Premier Christy Clark after her stunning victory.
- Rob Ford fired chief of staff for telling mayor to 'get help'
- 3 injured in Washington state bridge collapse
- Alleged Ford crack video seller not responding to calls
- Pickup truck backs up over mother, 2 children in tent
- Mike Duffy says he wants to give Canadians 'the whole story'
- Montreal lifts boil-water advisory
- Vancouver man abandons Porsche on B.C. ferry
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford fires chief of staff
- Federal Court won't remove MPs over robocall allegations
