Government Operations Committee on June 17th, 2008

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I think they were all in favour, and it really doesn't matter because it's not close. If it were close, we could count them all.

Are we finished with this particular part of the agenda? Yes.

We now have before us another motion. It was brought forward with the proper 48 hours' notice. That's the motion from Mr. Silva.

Mr. Silva, would you please bring forward your motion?

[Mario Silva, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

The motion, as it reads, is:

That the committee call witnesses to testify on Thursday, June 19, 2008, to the Report on the Investigation into the Unauthorized Disclosure of Sensitive Diplomatic Information in accordance with the motion passed by this Committee on June 10, 2008.

Madam Chair, those of us who have looked at the report realize that there are a lot of unanswered questions. I think it would be important for us as a committee to get to the bottom of it by inviting people.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Is there any debate on that motion?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

You're going to put me in a bad spot here.

All those in favour of the motion? All those against?

I will make a ruling. My understanding is that it's the right of the chairman to keep the debate going. Therefore, I vote in favour.

(Motion agreed to)

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Shocking.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Good decision.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Now, as a result of that, we have a list of witnesses. I don't know whether we can get those witnesses to come forward by Thursday.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

What is the list of witnesses for?

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

It's for Thursday morning.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Why was that part of the motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

The motion is that the committee will call witnesses to testify on Thursday, June 19, to the report....

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

We already have some.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Do we have the list of witnesses?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Not before us, no.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Do you have it, to propose it?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Yes, absolutely. Obviously the key names would be, first and foremost, the clerk who wrote the report, and then any subsequent relevant witnesses we feel with respect to individuals who were interviewed, not interviewed, department officials, people, even the chief of staff if need be.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

So you're proposing that we invite the Clerk of the Privy Council to come forward?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

I would say he would be the first on the list, yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I don't know who we can get on such short notice.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Can we ask them to come early Saturday?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Well, we can't debate that, can't we?

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

No.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Give him our list of witnesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Give him the list of witnesses and hopefully he can get them to come for Thursday morning at 9. In this room?