Government Operations Committee on Oct. 27th, 2009

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you.

I'll suspend the meeting for 20 seconds. We have some committee business we need to finish. I'd like to thank the witnesses for being here and for doing a fine job. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I am just going to take three minutes to remind you that on Thursday we have Minister Baird and Minister Merrifield, along with their officials, and Finance officials will be there. It will be covered by CBC and CTV, and we will need to ensure that the officials stay. If the ministers are busy, they are free to go, but the officials need to stay because we had staged that we needed the minister first and the officials next.

On Tuesday, November 3, we have the President of the Treasury Board and the current and former Clerks of the Privy Council, and the subject is the advertising component of the stimulus package.

For Thursday, November 5, we had stated that, if we couldn't get anybody, we'd get the Public Service Commissioner to come before us and present her findings, and she would like to do that. So November 5 was an open meeting. We had requested that all of you submit your suggestions for studies.

Mr. Anders, you had some wonderful suggestions, but you didn't submit them. You verbally articulated them here. Please submit them in writing so we do not forget what it is that you want the committee to study.

With that, are there any questions or concerns?

Yes, Mr. Martin.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

It has been a constant source of frustration to me that lately, when we invite ministers to come to our committees, they're only available for one hour. That's actually relatively new. In the 13 years I've been here, usually a minister has stayed with you for the meeting or for as long as you need them. Even if he has to dash away after one hour, I think we should let it be known that we're not impressed with that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Fair enough, and when the meeting starts on Thursday, I will communicate the member's concern that we need the ministers and the officials to stay for two hours. That helps us.

The clerk has given me....

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Marc-Olivier Girard]

It's just a quotation from Marleau and Montpetit: “Questions may be asked by any member of the committee; the Chair may, on occasion, also participate...”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

That's concerning your point of order.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Then, Madam Chair, if I might, if you're going to indicate that a member is concerned that the minister is only going to give an hour, I would hope you would also indicate that there are some members, certainly one at least, who appreciates the fact that the minister is here for the hour, and that's appreciated. So for proper balance, I would ask that this be accommodated as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

As you can see, Mr. Holder, I am very balanced, and we just had Marleau and Montpetit justifying my right to ask questions at any time I want, so there is a chapter in there. But I will be very balanced. I will thank the minister for coming, because we appreciate the minister's time. Ministers are busy; we appreciate that, and if you could talk to the current Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, she will tell you that I am a very responsible chair. I do not put any minister into trouble.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Believe it or not, Madam Chair, prior to this meeting, I have had one or two Conservatives who said nice things about you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you.

Mr. Warkentin.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I was just going to suggest that the clerk might reference the Standing Orders as they relate to points of order as well. There's some instruction that would be helpful.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Fair enough. Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Warkentin, for a point well taken.

Is there any other business?

The meeting is adjourned.