Evidence of meeting #43 for Public Accounts in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Alex Smith  Committee Researcher

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

No, I'm looking for an agreement, and short of a majority or a unanimous decision of the committee to change that, that would be the order of the day, and I would enforce it, given the trouble we had getting there.

So that would be my understanding, ideally, that I would not allow anything that would prohibit the committee moving from F-35 to estimates after the first hour.

Mr. McKay.

Let's be brief, folks. We've got five minutes.

10:40 a.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

I think it's a great idea. I just wish I'd thought of it.

I think we anticipate that you would have a full meeting and there probably wouldn't be any motions, etc.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Can I get a similar commitment from the official opposition?

10:40 a.m.

NDP

Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC

Yes, I think that's fair enough. I agree with Mr. Kramp's sentiment on that. Besides, I think the full hour should be dedicated to asking questions of the Auditor General. So that's what our major concern is with this, so that's fair.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Very good. Okay, I think we're close.

So, Mr. Saxton, would you be good enough to withdraw your motion?

Let me put it all out there. If you'd be willing to withdraw your motion, we would have another motion in front of the committee à la Mr. McKay, that this Thursday would be report writing, and next Tuesday would be the Auditor General, first hour, F-35; second hour, estimates; and the chair would guarantee that we would move from F-35s after the first hour to estimates in the second hour.

All right. Now, we haven't talked about the Thursday after. So that's what's before us right now: report writing, one hour; and AG, one hour. But I would need you to withdraw your motion and then I would accept a second one.

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

Mr. Chair, I don't think it's a matter of my withdrawing my motion. I think a friendly amendment to my motion could also satisfy the—

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Sure, if you're feeling that friendly, by all means.

We've got three minutes.

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

The proposition then is that my motion be amended on a friendly basis so that this Thursday will be report writing. Next Tuesday will be the Auditor General, the first hour, F-35s; and the second hour, estimates. Do we have an assurance from the chair that the second hour will indeed be estimates, and will not wander back to the subject of the first hour?

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Yes, you do.

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

Okay.

And then Thursday of next week is also report writing.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Or chapter 5 that's floating out there. Either one.

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

Which is the chapter 5 one?

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

That was the one we moved so we could meet with the AG: chapter 5, maintaining and repairing military equipment.

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

Yes, okay.

Eventually we need to deal with everything that has been put off as a result of this.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

It's quite a bit of work. We don't lack for things to do.

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

But we also have a lot more reports to complete.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

We have those two. Are any others ready or could be circulated and would be deemed ready?

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

Public accounts.

10:40 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Alex Smith

“Regulating Pharmaceutical Drugs” is in translation and will be ready any day. I just don't want to promise it for Thursday. So next week —

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

No, could you promise it the following Thursday?

10:40 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Alex Smith

Absolutely.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

I wanted to make sure we had enough work to do. So we could do report writing on the 17th also, if you wish.

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

We've got Public Accounts of Canada 2011 that we could also complete.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

What's the status on that, Alex?

10:40 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Alex Smith

Yes, as I was saying earlier, that has been before the committee. There are blackline changes for the committee to consider again.