Public Safety Committee on May 13th, 2014

[Shawn Tupper]

I think theoretically all of these are options that we should and can consider—

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

That's my worry.

[Shawn Tupper]

—as possibilities.

As I said earlier, I've been working in this area for eight years and I was a huge fan of what the Brits had done. I am becoming quite skeptical of the model that the Brits have put in place, and I would point to Peterborough as a perfect example of cheating on the side. First of all, for a social impact bond you're not supposed to have government money up front. The Brits put government money up front. You're supposed to design them in a way that they're rigorous and can be validated in terms of measurable progress moving forward.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

We're running a little out of time, I'm sorry. You're a wealth of knowledge on this and we certainly would love to have you here for days. However....

Yes, Ms. James.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I don't know whether this is a point of order, but I think that we have a lot of questions for these witnesses and I hope they would be willing to come back for maybe another hour or something. I know that our time is also cut short.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

That's a request. It's certainly not a point of order. That can be discussed with both the witnesses and in committee business.

Right now, we have a financial issue that we need to deal with.

You can have the floor for a minute if you'd like, Mr. Payne.

[LaVar Payne, Conservative, Medicine Hat, AB]

Yes, I'll be very brief. Thank you, Chair.

In terms of the comment around mental health, I know there's the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative. In terms of Mr. Garrison, yes, there's not a lot of corporate organizations in smaller communities, but, you know, in the smaller communities that we have around we have all kinds of folks—there are banks, there are plumbing companies, there are transportation companies, real estate organizations, all kinds of organizations—all providing funds for minor hockey, minor soccer. That's to keep the kids busy, to keep them out of gangs.

That's only a small example of what can happen in smaller communities. You don't necessarily need to have a major program.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Fine. Thank you very much, Mr. Payne.

The chair has really enjoyed this. This is fascinating and certainly is breaking new ground potentially for our committee and our government and our opposition to consider this.

We thank you very much for coming today. The witnesses are excused.

We have a very brief financial matter to deal with. I would ask now for the indulgence of our committee members. We have a routine budgetary proposal before us. Obviously, it's an interim request, as we do before all of our committees.

Does anybody have a problem with it? If not, I would like a motion to accept that budget.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

I so move.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

And seconded...fine.

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you very much. It's passed.

The chair will also bring one other issue to your attention. We can deal with this now or we can deal with it another time. I would have to have unanimous consent for this.

In terms of the quotation for the printing of the economics of policing, the challenge, of course, is.... It's not a problem when it's in black and white, but to put it in colour where the graphs actually are effective.... Quite frankly, it's ineffective unless it's in colour. However, in order for us to have a number of copies in colour, there's a quotation charge to the committee. For 25 coloured copies, originally we were looking at close to $500. We have a reduction in that quote now, down to $285, thanks to the good work of the committee, the clerk and that.

I would simply like to know at some point if the committee is comfortable with that amount and/or that price. So I leave that with you right now for discussion.

Yes, Mr. Easter.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

How many copies did you say, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

If you want 25 copies, it's $285. You can take 125 or you can take five. The chair, of course, will be at the will of the committee as to how many copies you believe we and/or the committee should have at their disposal and/or for the use of Parliament.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

I do think, Mr. Chair, that for the graphs to be effective, they really should be in colour.

I mentioned this to you before, Chair. I don't think anything can be done this time, but my experience always with supplementary reports, or dissenting reports...it always said at the top of the report, this is a supplementary report by the NDP, or the Conservative party when they were in opposition, and that didn't happen in this case. I think in the future the Library of Parliament clerk, or whoever, needs to ensure that this doesn't happen, because the report doesn't read correctly the way it is with—

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

I understand your point, Mr. Easter, and certainly the chair can take that under advisement and discuss it with everybody else.

Right now, I do need a decision. Would you like to quote—

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

I would so move.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

At $285...? Are we all in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

It's unanimous from the committee.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Leif-Erik Aune]

Is that for 25 copies?

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

For 25 copies.

Thank you very kindly.

Votes will be called, so we will adjourn for the day.

The meeting is adjourned.