Government Operations Committee on Oct. 19th, 2010

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

It cost $1 million and it has been filled in?

[Peter McGovern]

The lake was about $50,000 of the whole project.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Merci, madame.

Mr. Holder, you have the final two minutes.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

I'd like to acknowledge, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Elcock.... I need to say something that no one around this table has said yet, and that is, well done. I sincerely mean that: well done.

We've all been exposed to and are aware of summits internationally—G-8, G-20—in the past that have had violent protests that have resulted in serious injuries to security personnel and to those who want to provide peaceful protest. My sense is that had there been anything of a serious nature, it would have been dramatic and a really dark stain on Canada.

So I applaud the approach that you've taken with respect to security, and frankly, I wish people around this table would get behind this particular effort to say well done. I want to say that from the standpoint of the government, we're very proud of the work that has been done.

To you, Mr. Elcock, my question would be this: from a security standpoint, would you have done anything different, from what you've seen now, as a result of being able to connect the dots in hindsight?

[Ward Elcock]

Mr. Chairman, I know there are some inquiries of various organizations in respect of some of the specific tactics used in the G-8 or G-20, or alleged to have been used in them. Those will ultimately go forward, and there will be a finding at some point. So I'm not going to comment on those issues.

In terms of putting in place adequate security for a meeting of virtually all of the senior government leaders for most of the world, if you don't provide security for it, that's a very tempting soft target. So by definition, it's essential that we provide security for an event like that to ensure that it is in fact a hard target, and unfortunately that is a costly endeavour in the modern world. Particularly after 9/11, there is no question that security standards have gone up, and many leaders will simply not come to a meeting at which adequate security doesn't exist.

In this case, I think the security plan was a solid one. I think it was carried out effectively. As I said, there may be some specific aspects that will come under review, and people will ultimately make findings on those, but I think overall the summit security was entirely appropriate.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Mr. Elcock.

Thank you, Mr. Holder.

Before I adjourn, I want to thank the two witnesses on behalf of the committee for their testimony. We appreciate their help.

Also, before I adjourn, I need approval of a budget of $13,575 for Bill C-429, for witnesses. Could I have a mover?

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

I so move.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

I second the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Mr. Holder moves it and Mr. Martin seconds it.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

The chair sees that it's unanimous.

The second thing is that we are running up against a timeline on Bill C-429. I have asked the clerk to be ready for clause-by-clause at the end of Thursday, so in the event that we do move to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-429 on Thursday—which is by no means certain—we'll be ready to proceed. Therefore, members need to have any amendments they wish to make prepared for the end of Thursday.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Chair, thank you for that. In the event there's a determination by this committee that we should extend our work and ask for an extension from the House on this particular bill, is there any way we could prepare to have that in place, if in fact that's necessary?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We can have that. Yes, agreed.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Yes, Mr. Holder.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Thank you.

I won't take much time, but I think that as chair you have one of the more interesting challenges on a committee. All I would ask is that when there is a second-round opportunity, you pay mind to the clock and average out the time so that members around the table get equal time.

I noticed that my colleagues in the Liberal Party had five minutes and my good friends from the Bloc and the Conservatives had two minutes each, and Mr. Martin did not have one more opportunity to say anything.

So could I just ask you to be mindful, please, sir?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

That's my fault entirely, and I apologize to colleagues. I had understood that you just maintained the second round until you ran the time. But apparently it's customary at this committee that you divide the time. The rules are what the committee says the rules are, and I was informed by Mr. Warkentin that you divide the time.

[An hon. member]

Is he the authority on time?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I'll do whatever the committee wishes me to do, but I would like some clarification from the committee.

[An hon. member]

Let's talk about it on Thursday.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Fine.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

The meeting is adjourned.