Natural Resources Committee on Nov. 20th, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Thank you very much, Mr. Hall.

Thank you, Mr. Regan.

We go now to Mr. Trost for about five minutes and then we'll have to look at the motions very quickly. Go ahead, please, Mr. Trost.

[Bradley Trost, Conservative, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Since it appears I will be the last questioner because of the time here, let me start, gentlemen, by complimenting both of you. As we knew coming in and looking at your resumés, you're both very highly qualified. I'm sure you have a considerable number of things you can choose to do. We thank you for choosing to engage in this line of public service.

One of the things I'm sure you're aware of, and if you weren't, this meeting will probably have made you aware, is that dealing with boards and government entities can be somewhat different from dealing with private entities. I'm sure you never were questioned for any position in the private sector in quite the same way as you are being questioned today.

I'll start with Mr. Hall and then go to Mr. Balsillie.

In your background what skill sets and experiences do you have that will assist you in dealing with the public entities you're now a part of? As I noted, there's going to be a nuance, a little difference. You're both very qualified in the private sector, but what skill sets, what experiences have you had that will allow you to deal with some of the unique complexities that naturally result when dealing with entities that are related to government?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Hall, could you give a short answer? We have very limited time now. Go ahead, please, sir.

[James Hall]

Sure. I'll mention a couple of things very quickly.

One, as I said before, I tend to say what I think and I am intellectually independent. The other is I have served on a lot of boards. I have served with some absolutely magnificent individuals of the stature of Mr. Balsillie and I've never felt shy about expressing my opinion.

I agree it is a little different from your average TSX listed company, but in three months I've had no problem dealing with the deputy minister on the board. I think he's a very good asset.

I can't conjure up having any problems. No one has told me to back off and not say what I want. I think the other board members like it when I poke management on various issues that I have questions about or maybe disagree on.

Certainly, and this is the last thing I'll say, any ideas that I've had, any suggestions, any recommendations, I get full understanding, including from the representative from NRCan on the board. That's all you can ask for in the position of a board member.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Thank you, Mr. Hall.

Mr. Balsillie.

[James Balsillie]

Thank you for the question, Mr. Trost.

I do agree with you that the government board is a different animal than a private sector board. The nexus between the government policy and the private sector imperative of commercialization is what uniquely intrigued me about the mandate of SDTC.

In response I would just say that I've served on a number of panels and boards that are public policy oriented, both at CIGI and the Canadian International Council, as well as the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability. There is a different kind of conversation that happens in public policy. Its nature is different from that of a private sector conversation.

Candidly, it took me a few years to understand the language. The two languages are very different. What intrigues me most about this is that it's an opportunity, which I think is a unique treat for me, in which these two elements of my background and interests intersect. I think the background and interest in public policy and public policy boards, particularly sustainability boards in the UN—I'm also on a board in the Stockholm Resilience Centre—give me an opportunity to try to bring the public and private sector board experience together.

I have found the first few months on the board, as Mr. Hall also said, have gone quite well for me. I'm enjoying it and trying my best to contribute.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Thank you very much.

On behalf of the committee, I want to thank both of you very much for being here today. The committee still has a little bit of business to do. I wish you the best in the roles you will play in the months and years ahead.

[James Hall]

Thank you.

[Christine Moore, NDP, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I would like if at our next meeting you could manage the time the way you are supposed to do. Before, on the break, we dealt with the timeframe and because you did not manage the time as you were supposed to—I did the calculations—I was unable to speak to the witnesses. I'm a little disappointed by that.

I made calculations to make sure we would be able to talk, and because you allowed more than five minutes to people to speak when we said it would be five, I was unable to ask my questions to Mr. Balsillie. I'm a little upset with that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

I understand. It's very difficult sometimes to cut off an answer partway through. I watch and see how it's going and make a judgment call. I made a judgment call and it meant an extra minute for each person who questioned. That's the best I can do.

We have to move two motions.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Should we let these people go?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

The meeting is over for the witnesses who were on video conference. This is just committee business.

Does somebody want to move the motion? We need separate motions, because these are for two separate bodies.

Mr. Leef.

[Ryan Leef, Conservative, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Chair, I move:

That the Chair report to the House that the Committee has examined the qualifications and competence of James Laurence Balsillie to the position of Chairperson of the Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology and finds him competent to perform the duties of the position.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Thank you very much.

You've heard the motion. Is it agreed?

[Christine Moore, NDP, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

It's not agreed?

[Christine Moore, NDP, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

The second motion is on division.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

It's just for the first one, for Mr. Balsillie.

Is it agreed for Mr. Balsillie's appointment?

[A voice]

For Mr. Balsillie, it's on division.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

(Motion agreed to on division)

Would someone like to move the second motion?

Ms. Crockatt.

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

I move:

That the Chair report to the House that the Committee has examined the qualifications and competence of James Hall to the position of Director of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and finds him competent to perform the duties of the position.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

You've heard the motion. Is it agreed that the motion be passed? On division?

(Motion agreed to on division)

Very quickly, for next week, on Monday we are asking departmental officials to come in order to start our study on the rare earths industry. That will be on Monday, assuming they can come, and I believe they will be able to. On Wednesday, we have the minister coming regarding the estimates.

That's the agenda for next week.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Will the minister be here for two hours?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

The minister will be here for an hour and the officials for the second hour, but good try.

Ms. Block, go ahead, please.

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Before you adjourn, can you confirm that the first appointment....

In your question you were asking us to include all of the individuals in the motion and that you sought unanimous consent to pass that motion, so will that be reflected in the minutes?