Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 2nd, 2013

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Is it possible to bring to the committee this compromise solution and to work with Mr. Allen on that?

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON]

We've had the discussion and he doesn't agree with our proposal, and that's why we're here.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I tried, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I admire the attempt.

Thank you to our witnesses. I think we're going to end at that part. Minister Finley has to leave.

I know, Mr. Cullen, you wanted a minute but—

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Just one minute.

I'm confused about whether there is something unique in this....

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I will excuse Minister Finley, and allow you one minute.

Thank you.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Yes, it's not for Minister Finley at all.

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Thank you very much.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

The only thing that's different about this process and that I don't understand is that the commission chose to hold a secondary meeting with the new maps presented. They presented some new maps for the whole region and people testified.

Did the two of you testify? I can't remember, but—

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON]

We were in the House, but we sent submissions.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Right.

You were in the House and sent submissions, but your submissions were that you agreed with this. Then a new map came out that you didn't agree with.

I just want to get the process right. Did the commission then hold another series of public hearings?

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON]

No. It was just the one.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I'm confused because I heard Mr. Allen say about the secondary....

Were the new maps from the commission presented at that time?

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

Yes.

The initial meeting was in Niagara Falls for the Niagara region. I think there were 13 public submissions made. They then changed the maps again.

There was a new submission held in Hamilton, and Niagara was allowed to come and go because the maps had changed. It was open to folks in Niagara to go, so I went.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

And that hearing was on these final maps?

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Okay. Thank you.

Is there anything else?

Perfect.

Thank you all for coming today. Thank you for all your information and your agreement amongst each other.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

We will suspend for a moment while we go in camera. We have a couple of reports.

[Proceedings continue in camera]