Evidence of meeting #28 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was andrews.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON

At least one—

11:15 a.m.

Liberal

Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL

But that could be Newfoundland time, because I took it off my Twitter account, which would really put that back into perspective. But we'll get back to that in a minute.

Yes, I think maybe it was Newfoundland time, so that would put it back into....

I'll read the tweet, because the tweet sort of tells the tale here: “Looks like an NDP/Liberal filibuster at ethics committee today”. So, “at ethics committee today”, meaning I'm at ethics committee today. It says, “Wonder what they are afraid of?” It was sent like—

11:15 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

Mr. Andrews, I have a point of order.

Monsieur Dusseault.

11:15 a.m.

NDP

Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC

I checked my Twitter stream properly, and it is 12:53 p.m. According to the information provided to me by Twitter, Mr. Calkins tweeted a message at 12:53 p.m. The message Mr. Andrews is referring to was posted during the committee meeting.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

Monsieur Dusseault, I don't think that's actually a point of order. Thank you.

Mr. Andrews.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL

We've got it figured out over here. We've got it figured out: “Wonder what they are afraid of?”

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON

Us.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL

No, no. They were referring to us, thank you.

Welcome back, Mr. Del Mastro. I'm glad you're—

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON

Fearless on this side of the table.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

Just one moment, please.

Mr. Del Mastro, if you'd like to be on the speakers list, would you signal that to the clerk?

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON

I'm just happy to be here, Madam Chair.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

You don't have the floor. Thank you very much.

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON

I'm just happy to be here.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

Thank you.

Mr. Andrews.

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON

I'm learning a lot. Please—

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL

Madam Chair, I'm happy too, that he's here today. I'm glad we've established that.

Okay, wondering what they're afraid of.... Absolutely nothing: when it was discovered that Mr. Adam Carroll had done this and disclosed this, what did we do? We accepted his resignation immediately. Then, when the House rose the next day, we came back, owned up to it, and made an unequivocal apology. We said we were sorry. I'll get to the apology a little later. I don't want to forget that; I have that note there.

It's funny what they're afraid of. I would ask one of the Conservatives how many times they go in camera in committee meetings and what they're afraid of. And when we deal with a filibuster.... I'm just delighted that this committee is now dealing with something that's not in camera. We're not in these secret meetings that the Conservatives like to put forward. When they get a motion on something they don't like, they quickly go into a secret meeting so we don't hear anybody talk about the battles in the Conservative Party.

We're not afraid of anything. We're not filibustering. We're just glad to be able to come to the committee and have a chat, an open discussion about things. I know that's something new, but it's a new policy of the Conservatives now to do things in open meetings, and I'm looking forward to doing a bit more of that.

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON

Point of order, Madam Chair.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL

Good. I needed to get my thoughts together. Thank you.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

Mr. Del Mastro on a point of order.

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON

I'd just like to clarify.... I'm not aware that Mr. Andrews had suggested moving in camera. If he did, he might find support for that. He has alleged that there's a new practice here at the committee. I'm not aware of that. But in fact had Mr. Andrews moved that we move in camera for the discussion of this motion or others, he might have found support for that.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

Thank you, Mr. Del Mastro.

I didn't hear any motion from Mr. Andrews, so we'll come back to Mr. Andrews.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL

No siree, I don't want to go in camera at all.

I'd like to correct the record with Mr. Del Mastro on in camera. We've seen it many, many times, Mr. Del Mastro, so don't try to cloud the waters here. If you'd like to go in camera—

11:20 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

Mr. Andrews—

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL

I'm sorry, Madam Chair. Sorry.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

Yes, thank you--through the chair, please.

Thank you.