Natural Resources Committee on Feb. 5th, 2009

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Chair, I think the proposal is a good start. If the minister needs to return, we can request that, but I think we should get on with it and meet the minister.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Okay. Is there any further discussion on this?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I'm surprised. It's not my impression that Mr. Anderson said he had her schedule.

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

I didn't say I had her schedule.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

I said this has been agreed to.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Sorry, let me rephrase that. I didn't say he had it; I said it's not my impression that he had it. I didn't suggest that you said he had it. I'm saying I don't think he has her schedule; therefore I'm a little surprised that he wouldn't ask whether she can come for two hours.

As Mr. Siksay said, I suppose we could agree to have her come, preferably for two hours. If she only has an hour, obviously we'll have to deal with that. But I hope he will agree to ask her to come for two hours and return later, because the committee is just starting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Anderson.

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

I think Mr. Regan was turned around when I finished my statement that if the committee doesn't want her to come, I will ask her when she can come and we'll try to work that out. So if you want her to come on Tuesday--

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

We want her to come.

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

--she's more than happy to come. I don't have her schedule. You know how busy the ministers are. She's made time in the schedule for this and will be here if we want her. Mr. Siksay apparently does. I'm just wondering what the Bloc's position is on that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

I've heard that there is agreement. You can ask if it's possible to change that. I think it was agreed that we'd have her for an hour. You can discuss it with her and see if she can stay longer.

Is that the understanding?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Okay, that is agreed.

Our time for this meeting is finished. Thank you all very much. I'll see you on Tuesday with the minister.

The meeting is adjourned.