Evidence of meeting #45 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Michelle d'Auray  Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat
Alister Smith  Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Hélène Laurendeau  Assistant Deputy Minister, Compensation and Labour Relations, Treasury Board Secretariat
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Marc-Olivier Girard
Yaprak Baltacioglu  Deputy Minister, Office of the Deputy Head, Infrastructure Canada
John Forster  Associate Deputy Minister, Associate Deputy Minister's Office, Infrastructure Canada

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have two things.

I'd like to thank our officials for attending--

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

I still have to give them some--

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON

I know you'll give them appropriate direction, but my concern is that we've had them back a couple of times...and I know they are servants of Parliament, to the extent they've been very accommodating, but we'll get them back as often as is appropriate. I think we want to respect their time as well.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

I appreciate that.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON

I think we took so much time earlier today on a dialogue that could have been resolved either with some simplicity or some dialogue in advance of both sides having chatted. I can't tell you that, but that seemed to take too much time, and I'm disappointed.

Madam Chair, could I ask that from now on, when there's even modest time left, if there isn't sufficient time for all four parties--because I'm disappointed that Mr. Martin didn't have an opportunity to ask questions, and I must express some disappointment that we didn't as well--that it's either all or none?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Fair enough.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON

So we'll either get two minutes--

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

That's why, when they told us they were tied up in other matters and they could only come at 5:10, which is what they did, and then they have opening remarks--5:15--and there's 15 minutes in which we get questions and answers--

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON

It's either 2 minutes, 30 seconds per, or none, because I don't think it's fair, Madam Chair.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Fair enough.

Madam Baltacioglu, you had committed to provide the committee with information. Can we know within what timeframe you will be able to provide it? Can we have it in a couple of days? The agreement is tomorrow, but did you have some job numbers you were supposed to submit?

5:30 p.m.

Associate Deputy Minister, Associate Deputy Minister's Office, Infrastructure Canada

John Forster

No. We agreed to provide you with a copy of the contribution agreement between Canada and the province, which we can provide you tomorrow.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

We will check the blues, and if anything is remiss, we will let you know.

5:30 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Office of the Deputy Head, Infrastructure Canada

Yaprak Baltacioglu

From the last meeting?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Yes.

5:30 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Office of the Deputy Head, Infrastructure Canada

Yaprak Baltacioglu

This meeting we promised you we will give you the template for the Canada-Ontario infrastructure framework agreement. I think an honourable member asked for all templates for the provinces, so we promised that.

There might be some outstanding promises we made at the last committee. We're tracking it and getting them. But the biggest request you had was the CD, which we provided to the committee in the deadline you gave us.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

You say you will check to see. You were going to get a legal opinion and you were going to tell us what job numbers you have, if you have any. You will check around the province.

5:30 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Office of the Deputy Head, Infrastructure Canada

Yaprak Baltacioglu

We will have to ask for a legal opinion. I can't tell you when I'm going to get this legal opinion.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Fair enough. We'll send you an e-mail and then let's have it done.

Thank you very much, members of the committee. Thank you to the witnesses.

The meeting is adjourned.