Evidence of meeting #115 for Finance in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was witnesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
If we can amend the motion to ensure that there is a vote by the end of the committee meeting, we would be in favour.
11:45 a.m.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Chair, I would just say that, to the extent that we may be asked to consider amendments, ones that we have yet to see, that tends to suggest that we may need a little bit more time in order to conduct the debate and come to a successful conclusion, so that leaves me at a loss as to what to do in terms of voting for a second round, despite my preference to hear more from witnesses, because it sounds to me like we're going to need more time in order to try to come to an amended solution on Ms. Bendayan's resolution.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
We're back. MP Blaikie had the floor.
We have MP Blaikie and then PS Bendayan.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have said my piece for now. I'm interested to know if there may be some kind of amendment that we have a high level of confidence we'll come to so that we can take more time with the witnesses, but I'm not in the driver's seat on that.
I'm happy to yield the floor.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
I'm very happy to work with my Conservative colleagues. I've asked them to provide us the amendment they are hoping for so that we can see if we can come to an agreement. Until we get it, it's very difficult for me to say whether or not we have time for a second round.
I look to my Conservative colleagues.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
Thanks, Chair.
In my discussions with Ms. Bendayan, it would be best for us if we could let one more round go and, during that round, we could discuss some of the amendments and see if we can come to a conclusion that might lead us to vote on Ms. Bendayan's motion today. It is important that we have really good witnesses for all parties here today, and we should let that round go. While that round is happening, we can discuss what we need to do going forward.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
I'll respond to my colleague.
I appreciate the overture. I would like some confirmation that we will get to a vote today. If my colleague opposite will confirm—perhaps in a friendly amendment to his motion—that all members agree to get to a vote today, without specifying the hour, we would be in favour of a second round.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
I think we all want to get to that point, but we don't know where we're going to land when we start talking about amendments.
I don't think we should put a time allocation on this discussion. There's a lot my colleagues still want to get on the record. I'm sure Mr. Blaikie and Mr. Ste-Marie also want to talk on the motion first—and we can. Depending on how the discussions go, we can get somewhere. We'll all be comfortable with an amendment of some sort, but I don't think we should put a time allocation on that at all.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Mr. Chair, I wonder whether, for the moment, we could get unanimous consent to withdraw the present motion and bring it back at the end of the six-minute round. Perhaps that will give us some time for Mr. Hallan and Ms. Bendayan to figure out what the rest of the meeting would look like and whether or not it's advisable to have a second round with the witnesses.
This allows us to not have to make the decision right now and to go back to hearing from the witnesses while there's still time on the clock.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
Thank you for that, MP Blaikie. I see a thumbs-up on that.
Go ahead, Mr. Morantz.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
I'd like to bring my motion to a vote.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
I think Mr. Blaikie made a very reasonable recommendation, which I support.
I would encourage the Conservative members opposite to step outside with me now to discuss those amendments while the witnesses are responding to questions.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary Forest Lawn, AB
This is the last time I'll speak on this.
There will be amendments and dealings back and forth. It gives us a lot more time if we can let the round finish and have another round after that. We know we might not be able to solve this amendment issue in the next 10 or 20 minutes. Maybe we need a little more time.
That's why I suggest we vote on this now. I'm encouraging my Liberal and NDP colleagues. If we extend the round, it gives us more time to talk about amendments. Then we don't even have to talk on the motion much at all, after that.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Mr. Chair, I would like to remind Canadians and all those watching that this is a motion I moved on Thursday last. I put it on notice a week ago today. It was moved on Monday. My colleagues clearly have amendments to this motion that they are withholding in the interest of getting us to vote on a second round of questioning.
I would like nothing more than for witnesses to be able to provide their testimony. However, I am asking for a reasonable explanation as to why my Conservative colleagues do not wish to step out of the room now to discuss their amendments, but rather are asking us to do so in the next round.