Mr. Chairman, during the discussion with the Standing Committee on Legislation, there were some references made to, for instance -- I can't remember exactly how it was worded -- but the impression that I was left with was what is a comfortable period of time. For instance, Cabinet decisions should be protected. There was a debate between five and 25 years, and I think we had agreed to go with a clause that said 15 years. I think that is about the
maximum length of time any human could endure ministerial duty.
---Laughter Just judging from the performance and years served on Cabinet by previous Ministers, that should be the extent to which a Minister should expect to be protected from disclosures that could affect their current performance. That is, there is no protection expected to be given to Cabinet Ministers after they have left office, indefinitely. The records will be protected for 15 years. That is what was mentioned.
So, in regard to this particular point of order that Mr. Gargan is speaking to, it was raised in the Standing Committee on Legislation and is addressed by a specific clause, I think, in this bill. So, it was not a trap. I think -- well, there was, if you want to put some humour into it. We were threatened with having disclosure after five years, but we were asked, is that something comfortable, because we had come forward with 25, and I think we had settled, as small "l" Liberals usually do, with a compromise of 15, and that left everyone equally unhappy. Thank you.