Evidence of meeting #9 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 sector.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Merci, Monsieur Crête.
We have two minutes left in the minister's time.
We have Monsieur Arthur, for two minutes. We'll try to stretch it a little bit.
June 6th, 2006 / 1:05 p.m.
Independent
André Arthur Independent Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Good afternoon, Minister. Canada has a new government. The public is taking notice and it is slowly dawning on parliamentarians as well. The government seems to be telling Canadians that it will be taking a hands-off approach. Of all of the ministers who are involved, you seem to be the one who best represents the willingness to give free reign to the economy and let the citizens and companies fend for themselves.
In past years, one of the federal organizations that has best illustrated the tendency to want to control everything is the CRTC, which has recently come very close to disgracing itself. After having told Canadians that it had no intention of controlling the Internet, it then attempted a back-handed approach by ruling on voice over IP. So either the CRTC has not grasped that, notwithstanding the fact that the decision was overturned, the government has different policies now which means that it will continue to operate as it had under the previous government, or someone at the CRTC thinks that these are not firm intentions and the corporations can still hope to slip between the Minister of Industry and the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
What should we be thinking?
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
Maxime Bernier Conservative Beauce, QC
That is a good question. As you know, Mr. Arthur, a group of experts has provided me with a comprehensive report containing 127 recommendations, some of them relating to the CRTC and its mandate. We are in the process of reviewing all of the recommendations. We are taking the report very seriously. I hope that I will soon be able to provide you with the government's position on the future of the Telecommunications Act and that of the CRTC. Once we have a position — we are in talks with the Heritage Department and my other colleagues — I will be happy to provide as complete a response as possible to the 127 recommendations, a follow-up to what was brought forward by the panel of experts. Among the challenges to be met by the government, we must determine how we will manage this along with the Heritage Minister in a way that will meet the expectations of the public and of parliamentarians.
Mr. Arthur, we are taking a very close look at this file. I have joined with my department in reviewing these recommendations so as to quickly define our position. As you have said, our review of the CRTC decision on voice over IP has sent them a clear signal. The CRTC has 120 days to respond. I look forward to seeing how the CRTC will respond to our request to review its decision.
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
Joe Fontana Liberal London North Centre, ON
Mr. Chairman, I can appreciate the minister's timelines. In fact, I don't expect the Conservative minister to be liberal with very much of his time. But I wondered if you could ask the minister a question on my behalf, albeit now the time has run out.
It's been five months, and we've only had an hour and five minutes with the Minister of Industry. You know how important the subject matter is, and I'm sure that he does. There are a number of us who in fact were on the roster to ask some questions on the wage earner protection program, the auto sector, and science and technology. I'm wondering whether we can have the assurance that the minister will be back with us very soon for an additional hour before we leave for the summer, or if he can't, by the time we leave, that at least he answer the questions you posed in the letter, so that we have an opportunity to take his comments into account as we move to look at the stresses and strains in the manufacturing sector.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you very much, Mr. Fontana.
We did ask the clerk, but the minister has informed us that his time is very limited. In fact, he did leave a cabinet meeting to come down and see us, so I think we should appreciate that.
I have a bit of corporate knowledge myself, Mr. Fontana. I recall some ministers in past Parliaments doing the same thing. So you're not dealing with a rookie here.
1:10 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
1:10 p.m.
A voice
I'm the rookie here.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Mr. Minister, thank you very much.
I think it is a valid point of order in the sense of the areas that have been raised in the letter.
I know with past ministers, from Tobin to David Emerson, we did have your department provide some substantive advice and guidance in terms of your priorities and plans. Obviously we look forward to presenting you something on the manufacturing study.
Thank you very much for being with us. And thank you to your officials.
And thank you, members.
The meeting is adjourned.