Evidence of meeting #4 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you.
Madame Bourgeois, I'll have to remind committee members not to come around. We will send the clerk over. If you come over here it does disturb the chair as well.
Thank you very much.
5:10 p.m.
Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat
Thank you.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
We will suspend for one minute and then we'll go into committee business.
I thought we could do two things.
First, when the witnesses were here, a point of order was raised. The point of order dealt with the rules of procedure that we had adopted. According to the rules of procedure that we had adopted, when we change witnesses, we start the round again. I'd like to ask the committee's indulgence that if the witnesses change and we're studying the same topic, wherever the last questioner left off, I can continue the round as if there had been no change. If the committee would agree to that, I would like to make that the normal process. Normally, if the whole thing changes and we have new witnesses coming in, they do their opening statement, and we always start from the first round. If we are in agreement with this--
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Siobhan Coady Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Can I ask a question?
I'm new to this committee, so just forgive me. In my last committee, when a new witness came, there was a new round. Are you saying you're going to change that for this committee?
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
No.
Here is what I am suggesting. In this case it was the minister and the Treasury Board, so it was the same ministry or the same people.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
In that case, if we're dealing with the same group, I would like you to give me the leeway so that I can continue on the round. It's a break in procedure, but if you agree, then I'm willing.
Mr. Warkentin.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I think there would be agreement to just continue in the event--and only in the event--that it was the same issue. In this situation, it was the minister and his officials accompanying him. If there are two different topics and they're isolated.... But if you just forewarn us that we're going to continue with the same round, and we make it that you would ask the committee's indulgence beforehand if you intended to do that at a meeting, then we can accept that. This is a perfect example of where that would have been beneficial.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON
I don't necessarily object to that in that circumstance. In this context, I'd like to ask two questions. First, the minister himself said--I thought--it was going to be two hours, and I was told it was only going to be one. That surprised me, because my understanding was that we ask for two, and the ministers generally say, no, they can only come for one. I don't know why on earth we would not have had the minister for two hours. If the minister was prepared to come for two hours, I certainly would have preferred to have the minister for two hours. That's one point. In that sense, this discussion would be moot.
Second, I thought we had also had a discussion about dispensing with opening statements. I was also a little bit surprised to hear an opening statement. It's not that it wasn't enlightening. I want to get that clarified, because it is part and parcel of what we're trying to accomplish with this.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
The usual procedure allows them to make opening statements of between five and ten minutes.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON
I had understood that we could make requests that there not be, and I thought we had that discussion.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
It's a normal process. You cannot tell them not to say a word and that we're just here to question them. They have the right.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON
I understood that when the invitation was sent. Anyway, I'll clarify that.
Can I actually get that confirmation about the ministerial appearances? When we have an opportunity to have a minister, I think our default should be to expect the minister to be here for two hours.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
The clerk is telling me that he's surprised, too; that the minister said he was going to be here for two hours. I don't remember him saying two hours. He didn't say? Okay. I have witnesses here saying he didn't say it. It was Madame Bourgeois who suggested he was here for two hours. He shook his head, and then I had to intervene and say, no, he said one hour.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON
But he said he would be happy to be here for two hours and he was told to be here only for one hour. That's what he said.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON
If we can check, I would appreciate it, just for future reference.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON
The default should be that we ask the minister to be here for two hours.
5:20 p.m.
Bloc
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
Madam Chair, Mr. Warkentin had a very good idea that he shared with us earlier. If we are dealing with the same subject, we should continue with the process already begun, even if new witnesses come to the table. However, if we are hearing from witnesses on an entirely different topic, we should start all over again.