Pearson Inquiry Paper Chase (Special Senate Committee on the Pearson Airport Agreements)‪.‬

Senator Finlay MacDonald was Chairman of the Special Senate Committee on the Pearson Airport Agreements. He retired from the Senate on January 4, 1998. On May 4th, 1995, the Special Senate Committee on the Pearson Airport Agreements was established. Its mandate was to examine all matters leading up to and including the agreements to redevelop Terminals 1 and 2 at Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport as well as circumstances surrounding cancellation of the agreements by the Liberal Government in 1993. The Committee was empowered to send for "persons, papers and records". Such powers were central to its ability to conduct a complete and thorough inquiry. This article explores the issue of obtaining full disclosure of documentary evidence from the government. It calls for changes to create an efficient and orderly way for future inquiries, be they parliamentary or judicial, to receive the documentation necessary for them to carry out their mandate.