Government Operations Committee on May 1st, 2024

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I'm just sensing a bit of...from our side. I've been on this committee before. It would happen that once in a while ministers appear on both dates. I didn't hear any objections as to having the department appear after, so I don't know what the issue is if you want the department.... I've been at committees where opposition members just wanted to question the ministers and the heck with the department, but if the opposition wants the department to appear, I don't sense that we have an objection on this side. We've never had an objection, so it's just a matter of scheduling. It's not a big issue.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks.

Mr. Jowhari, were you making the same point?

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Exactly. We could call the officials back, it's not an issue.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Genuis.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

On that point, my preference would be that, if the minister is only going to make him or herself available for an hour, we would have officials come for the next hour so that we can follow up on unanswered questions that emerge from that meeting. We're working down the list from, what should happen, next best, next best, but yes, I think better than what's currently proposed would be to have the deputy ministers—and it should be the deputy ministers then—come back for an hour and an hour at a subsequent meeting before the estimates are adopted. If there's agreement on that, let's do that.

Speaking of that, Chair, it just reminds me that there was some follow-up testimony from the deputy last week. There were some unanswered questions that were left on the table that we had been told we would get responses to by the end of the week. Did we receive responses on that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I have just two things. Mr. Drouin has a point, and you've made a point. If necessary, we'll bring in the officials separately. The original offer by the government was to have both ministers and the president of Canada Post and all the officials all together, all 16 of them, for one two-hour meeting, with the ministers all appearing together for one hour only. I think this hopefully is the best way forward. We'll get the ministers and, then, if necessary, the officials separately.

Mr. Genuis is bringing up the issue of PSPC delivering names or documents to us last Friday. They've provided those to the committee in a password-locked file that they somehow cannot get unlocked. We are following up with the deputy minister to obey the will of the committee and, trust me, we are on it. My intent is to have it to everyone today.

I do not know why they decided to go this route. Hanlon's razor is to not attribute to malice what is more attributable to incompetence, but I have great concerns, considering the push-back and the commentary made by the bureaucrats when we asked for this information. However, we are on it. I'm hoping we'll have it today.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Chair, I feel like I have walked into a Monty Python sketch here. They promised to provide the information. Okay, they'll provide the information, but it's behind a password-protected mechanism, and they won't provide you with the password. That is terrible but also comically ridiculous.

Just to follow up on the earlier point—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm sorry, but I will interrupt.

We'll have it shortly in the old-school way. They'll deliver it on paper, and we'll get it scanned and sent out, so it will be provided today.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Okay. Maybe they'll send it by fax even, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We're thinking cable—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

We should axe the fax.

On the question of officials, you said, “If necessary”. No, let's get the DMs in and schedule them for immediately after the ministers if we can't have them on the same day.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

That's the will of the committee as opposed to one person.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I think it is the will of the committee. It was Mr. Drouin's suggestion.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

I think he said officials. We were asking for officials, so let's not be that specific.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Okay. We'll follow up with them.

Wonderful. We can put the 29th to bed.

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback and input.

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

On that, sort of, have we also heard back from the premiers, who were asked to provide additional evidence when they testified on March 29?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I don't believe we've received anything, but as you are no doubt aware—

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Is there a course of action?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

—we are between clerks.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Are we as vigilant on the follow-up on that as the others?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Well, we followed up once.

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Can we send another letter to follow up, please?

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Can we do a follow-up again, please?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We can follow up with another email.

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

They were such expert witnesses for that very important study. I'd like to hear what they have to share with us.