Daniel Therrien to be vetted as privacy watchdog Tuesday

Daniel Therrien's nomination as the next federal privacy commissioneris expected to be confirmed quickly and as early as next Tuesday, just as interim privacy commissioner Chantal Bernierwraps up her six-month term as interim privacy watchdog.

On Tuesday,MPswill questionTherrienfor an hour when he appears before the Commons committee on access to information, privacy and ethics.

A couple of hours later, it willbe up to the Senate to approve Prime Minister Stephen Harper's pick for the next privacy watchdog, according to a notice posted on the Parliamentwebsite on Friday.

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Therrien'sconfirmation will come just as theCommons justice committee, which is studying the government's controversial cyberbullying bill, will finish hearing from expert witnesses.

The committee will not hear from Bernier, however, whosesix-month term as interim privacy commissioner ends on June 3.

In her preliminary remarks on the bill, Bernier said she had not been consulted on the bill and had questions about "the new investigative powers in the bill, the potentially large number of 'public officers' who would be able to use these significant new powers, and a lack of accountabilityand reporting mechanisms to shed light on the use of new investigative powers."

She also noted that "many troubling aspects" of a previous version of the legislation, Bill C-30, were not included in this current bill.

Bernier was also expected to appear before a Senate committee to give her views on Bill S-4, the digital privacy act, but to date two bureaucrats from the privacy commissioner's office are scheduled to appear on June 4.

Bernierdeclined May 29 date

Jean-FranoisPag, the clerk of the justice committee studying Bill C-13, told CBC News on Friday that June 5 isthe date set for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to appear as a witness.

Pag saidBernierwas given the option to appear earlier but declined. He noted it would not be possible for her to present her viewson June 3 as the list of witnesses was set. The clerk said it would fall on the new privacy commissioner to testify on the cyberbullying bill.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada did not rule out the possibility that Therrien could be the one testifying on the cyberbullying bill next Thursday.

Valerie Lawton, a senior communicationsadviserfor the privacy commissioner's office, told CBC News on Friday that they were offered two dates: May 29 and June 5.

"We opted for June 5to give ourselves more time to prepare, given that we were already in the midst of preparing for other parliamentary appearances."

"Moreover, June 5was a preferable date because we expected that either a new commissioner would be confirmed,or that Chantal Berniers interim mandate would be extended."

Lawton said that given the way things are unfolding, "We are reconsidering our options."

'Unfortunate' Bernierwon't appear

In an interview airing Saturday on CBC Radio's The House, Ontario privacy watchdog Ann Cavoukian said she was concerned with the fact that Bernier would not get to present her views on the cyberbullyingbill.

"It's unfortunate that she can't appear before the committee."

Cavoukian refused to speculate at length about Therrien'scredentials, saying it would take anyone new to the job some time to get acquainted with the bill.

"There are many deep questions which have to be addressed. I don't know if Mr. Therrien would have sufficient time to familiarize himself," Cavoukiansaid.

Opposition critics, reached by CBC News on Friday, said they were surprised to learn that Bernier would not be the one testifying before the justice committee next week.

NDP justice critic Franoise Boivinsaid she would expectsomeone else from the privacy commissioner's office, someone other thanTherrien, to appear before the MPson Thursday.

Having Therrientestify on Bill C-13 in the same week as he is confirmed privacy commissioner would be "improper," she said.

Liberal justice critic Sean Casey said it was "unfortunate" that Bernier would not be the one testifying on the cyberbullying bill.

Casey wondered how "the new guy" would get up to speed on the bill.

On Friday, the New Democrats asked the Conservatives during question period if they would withdraw Therrien's nomination.

Conservative MP Dan Albas said "it is truly hypocritical for the New Democrats to claim to be the champions of public servants, and when a public servant who has served this country puts his name forward and his integrity is attacked, that is shameful and hypocritical in the most."

Therrien has served as a Department of Justice lawyer since 1981and more recently, since 2005, as assistant deputy attorney general.