Evidence of meeting #40 for Health in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
12:45 p.m.
A voice
It's on the same topic.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
I'd like you to make a formal motion, and we can have a discussion. I'd be happy to defend myself.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Mr. Dosanjh, you have to wait until Dr. Carrie's finished.
Dr. Carrie.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
I haven't seen anything so silly either. I agree with my colleague there. But I would make a recommendation that because we all know that our colleague is the former Minister of Health, perhaps the fastest way to get the information to—
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
That Mr. Dosanjh bring forward his records and information for the period between 2004 and 2006 while he was minister. That would allow the other officials to do their work on the period between 2006 and the present, so that they could answer the questions he has proposed.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
I'll put it on the record that I have absolutely no documents with respect to my time in the Ministry of Health, because I don't carry those records with me. Those records are usually destroyed.
Listen to me, sir. You had your chance.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Most of the documents that come to ministers are shredded or go back to the departments. Therefore, they would have a record. Let me get the department documents and you'll have a record of what I did or didn't do.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
Madam Chair, he said that they would be shredded or go back to the department. He's asked for all this information. Now he's telling us it's shredded. If he knew that in advance, why are we going through this?
Let's call the question and vote to see what we can—
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Ms. Chow, stop laughing. Let's come back to order here.
We will now move that motion. The motion is on the floor.
The motion was that Mr. Dosanjh bring forward those documents. But now we learn that in committee a member cannot be compelled to do that. The House can compel him, but the committee cannot.
So we have that clarified, right? Good.
So that motion cannot go forward, Dr. Carrie.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
I have a point of order. Is there anything this committee can compel a member of this committee to do?
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
You can't compel a member of the House to appear before you. Now you are compelling a member of the House to produce something that he doesn't even have, something that he's told you he doesn't have. This is absurd.
Can you check the rules, please?