Evidence of meeting #17 for Natural Resources in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was alberta.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
I'll answer the question on the actual cost of studies. That's always included in the study report when we do a study report.
Are we going to have a long discussion on this? Who is next up?
Mr. Regan, had you indicated you wanted to speak? Go ahead, please, Mr. Regan, and then Ms. Block.
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Like Mr. Julian, I was pleased today. It seems to me that if we're looking at the benefits, you can't do that without basically doing a balance sheet of the pluses and minuses, and I'm sure most of us would expect that there are a lot of pluses.
Secondly, just as a clarification here, in terms of the wording we've been giving out to the witnesses and others, according to the minutes from the committee's December 9 meeting, it was agreed:
That the Committee undertake a study on the benefits experienced across Canada from developing the energy industry with a focus on oil and natural gas.
Different wording than that has been used in various things. I think it's important that we stick to the wording that we agreed upon, and so far that's aside from the fact of whether or not it really makes sense that we're looking at the energy industry and not looking at nuclear, tidal, hydroelectric, thermal, and wind, as if those aren't important. But at least we ought to stick to the wording that we adopted.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
If we're going to get into a debate on what the study is about, we're going to have to go in camera. We're talking about the budget here and I really—
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
I just referred to the motion we passed, that's all. Let's stick to that.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Yes, and by the way, the reporting of the costs of the committee are through the liaison committee report, not through the actual committee reports that we do on a particular issue, just for clarification on that.
Ms. Block, and I hope the final discussion on this....
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
I'll be very quick, Mr. Chair.
Just in response to Ms. Moore's comments in regard to the number of meetings that we had discussed for this study, I think originally the request by the person who made the motion was 10 to 12 meetings. We've cut that down to nine, and I believe that perhaps she was not here when we had those discussions.
Thank you.
10:45 a.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Following up on Ms. Block's point, I'm not sure that we have agreed on the number of meetings. My concern is we have the estimates, we will have a budget implementation bill, we have a statute that may well be coming to us soon. I think that at the next meeting, we better sit down and plot out and see exactly how many meetings we have. It's fine for the budget to have more money than we might need, but I think it's time for a discussion on exactly how many meetings we're setting aside to discuss this topic.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Any time members of the committee indicate they want discussion on future business, we can fit that in.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Okay, I hear your suggestion.
Is there agreement that we pass the budget as presented to us here? Is that agreed?
10:45 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
If we're having discussions on committee business next Thursday, why don't we discuss the—
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
Mr. Chair, I move that we accept the budget as presented.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
There's a motion that we accept the budget as presented. Is there any further discussion on that?
Let's go to a vote.
(Motion agreed to)
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
I just want to thank the witnesses first, Mr. Calkins.
I'd like to thank very much again witnesses who have been very helpful.
I guess I should never assume how long it's going to take to discuss a budget for the committee, apparently.
But I do want to thank the witnesses: Ms. Kenny from the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association; Mr. Burt from industrial economic trends, The Conference Board of Canada; Colleen Mitchell from the Atlantica Centre for Energy; and Mr. McGowan from the Alberta Federation of Labour from Edmonton. Thank you all very much. It's very much appreciated, very helpful to our study, indeed.
The meeting is adjourned.