Hon. Pamela Wallin: Senator Gold, researchers and journalists yesterday appeared before the House Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics Committee to explain they are abandoning access-to-information tools because answers from government are coming too late to be relevant or not at all. The government blames the pandemic, staffing shortages and outdated technology, but excuses aside, it is unacceptable that the public cannot get relevant and timely information about government spending.

Just this week, the Auditor General stated that $4.6 billion in COVID overpayments to ineligible recipients and another $27.4 billion in questionable handouts should and must be further investigated.

The government’s lack of transparency is alarming. Senator Gold, when will citizens and taxpayers once again be able to have timely access to information about how government spends their money, specifically the $27.4 billion?