Government Operations Committee on March 29th, 2023

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

We want to come to a vote.

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

We are absolutely in support in terms of recognizing the seriousness of the situation, both on the language issue and on the issue of making sure that when the committee asks ministries to bring forward unredacted information, the information comes back unredacted.

What we are simply proposing is that we send a penultimate letter to the ministries and the departments, the relevant ones, the ones that have not responded to our request, to let them know that this is our intent: If they do not comply within 10 business days, we will send a report to the House of Commons.

That's what we're asking for, that step. What we're asking for is simply to convene as a committee on the Monday when we return from the Easter break so that we can fully understand which departments have or have not responded. We can discuss it and then we can come to a vote, and come to a vote unanimously, to support that motion—if that is in fact the case, if there are ministries or departments that have not complied with our request.

I think this is a pragmatic step, a sensible step. It gives the ministries clarity in terms of what we expect. It gives them clarity on what our game plan is. At that point, if they don't comply, the seriousness of that is what we will convey to the House of Commons, and there will be no shred of doubt that they had a full understanding of our intent and how seriously we take this situation.

All I'm asking for is really a difference of five days so that this committee has the opportunity to convene and see what is the status of our ultimate request to the ministries and departments that are not in compliance. That's all we're asking for, giving them 10 business days.

Again, I absolutely respect and acknowledge my honourable colleague for being flexible. I ask for a little bit of flexibility on this. I think it will only strengthen our position moving forward in terms of the message that we want to send and the report that we want to send to the House of Commons. That's what I'm asking for at this point, a little bit of flexibility, and we're ready to vote on it today.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Can we move to a vote, colleagues? Perfect.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

What are we voting on? Are we voting on moving it to the House now or—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We've adopted your amendment—

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

It's just on this motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

—and now it's Mr. Barrett's motion to move it to the House.

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Before that, is it possible to put forward an amendment at this point?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I think we've already moved past that. You gave up the floor and I heard a call for a vote. I didn't see anyone else on the speaking list.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

What are we voting on?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We have accepted the amendment from Mrs. Vignola. We've accepted Mr. Barrett's.... It was a vote to move it to the House.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

No, I'm sorry. That's not what it was. We're definitely not at a point where we voted to move it to the House.

Mr. Barrett put on the floor giving them an extension until April 12.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

I made a suggestion.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

You made a suggestion. That's fine.

If it wasn't a motion, we should be bringing forward a motion as to how we want to amend this thing, but nowhere did we say it was just going to a vote to refer it to the House.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm sorry. Bear with me for two seconds. It'll make you feel better.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Yes.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I have to be in the House in one minute, or I lose my speaking spot.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I realize that, Mr. Johns, but we have our committee.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Yes, we do.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We are continuing. That may be the case; you may lose your spot, I'm afraid.

I'm sorry, colleagues.

We were at Mr. Barrett's motion, which said two weeks from today. That's April 12. The clerk will further correspond with the departments to have them comply with the order from the committee. Those that don't submit in two weeks will be reported to the House.

Are we comfortable with that motion?

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Okay, so you've received that as a motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

That was from your amendment.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Are you ready for that?