Government Operations Committee on Nov. 2nd, 2010

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Okay.

The clerk has pointed out to me that the last sentence says “within five calendar days”, and that would mean an expiry deadline on a Saturday.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Shall we say “seven”? I'll offer an amendment--

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Or “Monday” or something like that, or “five business days”.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I'll say “five business days”.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Five business days: okay.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Yes.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Chair, I do have some concerns with regard to this motion. I don't know if Geoff Regan is aware, but his colleague Navdeep Bains has brought forward a very, very similar motion, almost identical in its components, in the public accounts committee, I believe, so the information is being compiled for that. I understand from our folks that five days is an impossible timeframe for the scope of information that's being requested.

So there are those two points: number one, we have a motion that's already being brought forward in the public accounts committee; and second, there is actually a problem in terms of being able to fulfill the request within the timeframe specified.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Are there any other comments on the motion?

Geoff.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chairman, on the fact that they are already compiling it, that part of it should make it easy to provide this committee with what they're already providing for another committee. Surely they can attempt.... Let's have them fulfill such part as they can, for starters. But I think it is reasonable to proceed with the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Are there any other comments on the motion?

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Chairman, in terms of it, I don't know how much work this committee wants to replicate if in fact another committee is already doing that. I don't know if there is time that we want to give Mr. Regan to consider and consult with his own colleagues as to whether or not they intend to replicate the same work. It's important, I think, that committee members know that this is being asked for in the public accounts committee, and we would simply be replicating the efforts they're undertaking there.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, Mr. Warkentin is assuming that this committee will ask the same questions, for example, as would be asked at the other committee or pursue the same topics. Just because we have the same information, that isn't necessarily the case--

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Well, I think we can coordinate with our colleagues.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

--and I can assure you that we'll try to avoid that. But I think it is certainly reasonable, since we're looking into this matter also, that we ought to have the documentation.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Is there any other commentary? Questions?

The motion has been amended to say “five working days” instead of “five calendar days”. Those in favour? Those opposed?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

The motion carries. Thank you.

The meeting is adjourned.