Procedure and House Affairs Committee on March 6th, 2014

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

We'll live to the motion that we passed, that it would be completed by May 1, so you'll need to bear with us. We'll need to back that up as to how many days we can anticipate for clause-by-clause study, because according to the motion, it finishes on May 1, or is deemed to be completed on May 1.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Was there a notice sent out that said we would start clause-by-clause study on May 1, or am I misunderstanding? That's all. I'm not in attack mode yet; I'm still seeking information, and I may not need to....

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Yes, the motion is that it starts and ends on that day. Of course we could start it earlier, but it must end on that day.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Okay, well, we have a notice that says it starts. Maybe if I could, through you, just to see where...if we don't have a problem, I don't want to make one, but if we have one, I'm going to make a big one.

I'm asking, I guess through Mr. Lukiwski on behalf of the government, whether or not it's the government's intention that we do clause-by-clause study all in one day.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

I'm not sure, David.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Okay. Will you get back to me?

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

No, no, no, I'm saying that half facetiously, because I'm not sure if my credibility is sufficient for you to take my answer at face value.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Now, now, now, let's—

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

We will get back to you.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Well, you' have a good point.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Again, the Tuesday we return we'll make sure that we clear that one up. It's my intent that it read “must be completed by” that date. So you're right. There would be some anticipation as to when it would have to start in order for that to happen.

Is there anything further on committee business? You're giving the clerk and the chair a bit of work to do starting tomorrow morning on some scheduling on this. As soon as we can, we'll share with you what we think the scheduling will look like. We'll be willing to accept some of your corrections, perhaps, if you think I've gone wrong, but this will not be an easy task to schedule this number of witnesses in that amount of time.

Mr. Scott.

[Craig Scott, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Just quickly, Mr. Chair, we appreciate the amount of work that will be going into this and we have been holding back, just trying to make sure we have as focused a list as possible, so I'm hoping we can get it to you by either the end of today or tomorrow.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Well, we're going to start on it pretty early tomorrow morning, so please do whatever you can to help us. As I said, I will accept suggestions all through the study, if you think of somebody else, and we'll do our best to try to include him or her. Of course, as you all know from the past, when you submit your lists, not everybody you love loves to come here, and some are busy in other places. We'll make sure we schedule the best we can.

All right? Thank you.

We are adjourned.