Evidence of meeting #23 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was report.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON

That's correct.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

We have details for the Toronto-Oshawa section. Mr. Carrie, Mr. Shipley, Mr. Van Kesteren, and Mr. McTeague have all submitted. My understanding is we do not have something for the Montreal-Granby portion or for the Halifax portion.

Mr. Lapierre.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Lapierre Liberal Outremont, QC

On the subject of Montreal, I had suggested that the committee visit the Bombardier and Peerless operations. The latter is the largest clothing manufacturer in Montreal and I think it's important to visit the company's facilities. As for Bombardier, if we consider the major players in the manufacturing sector in terms of economic development in the greater Montreal area, I think this company could be on our list.

4:15 p.m.

Bloc

Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Maybe.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Just as a quick question, Mr. Lapierre, could you clarify if this is for site visits?

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Lapierre Liberal Outremont, QC

Yes, it's for sites. That would be an eye-opener, I think.

Mr. Arthur had always said it was better for us to go

visit sites in person.

4:15 p.m.

Independent

André Arthur Independent Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

That's true, Mr. Lapierre, but I also said that the majority of jobs in the manufacturing sector were in SMEs, not in large, unionized companies. That's not where we're about to find the real manufacturing jobs in Canada.

I don't need to tour Bombardier's operations to be told that employees are very good. All I need to do is consult international aviation forums to find out that their performance has been seriously challenged.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Lapierre Liberal Outremont, QC

However, many small manufacturers depend on the aeronautics sector, on Bombardier and on other companies. Admittedly, we could also visit smaller operations, companies in Granby, for example. Perhaps...

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

I've just been advised that we should actually go in camera for this discussion.

4:20 p.m.

Independent

André Arthur Independent Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Certainly. That's not a problem.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON

There's no one here, except for departmental officials.

4:20 p.m.

Bloc

Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Is there a problem?

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

We'll suspend for ten seconds.

[Proceedings continue in camera]