Transport Committee on May 5th, 2009

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

Mr. Laframboise, the clerk is of the view that, if a motion was introduced 48 hours ago, the member may promote it whenever he wishes. So if we are ready, the motion may be introduced. However, it must have been tabled at least 48 hours before the meeting. Since Mr. Kennedy did that, everything is in order.

Mr. Kania is here today and he has three amendments. I would like to deal with them, and I would also like to deal with Mr. Kennedy's motion.

I have a particular question for the clerk. What do I do as chair when it comes to a vote? It doesn't matter what the vote is.

Clerk, could you give me an answer?

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Maxime Ricard]

The Chair or Acting Chair does not vote and does not move any motions.

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

Mr. Gaudet.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Your suggestion may be the right one, Mr. Chairman. Let's come back Thursday afternoon.

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

Mr. Kennedy.

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

I asked the Chairman when the appropriate time to introduce it would be. That's his decision. I believe Mr. Kania will be here at the next meeting.

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

Is it your wish to withdraw your motion now until a further date?

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

I would be happy to facilitate business. I was advised by the clerk that this had to be brought forward today. I asked him to bring it up at the appropriate time in the proceedings, and this is the time he chose.

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

The government and I are quite content to deal with this motion now, and I think it's appropriate to deal with it now.

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

I'm advised that it hasn't been moved yet. Notice has been given and it's appropriate, so it's all up to the member.

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

I'd like to bring the motion forward. It's time sensitive, and I'd like to seek the committee's view on this matter. We're probably up against time in any event for any considerations we have, so I'm willing to bring this forward now, if it's the chair's disposition.

I so move.

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

I'm advised that it has to be moved word for word so it cannot be changed when it is so moved.

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

I move, given the urgency of ensuring that $12 billion in new infrastructure funding is being distributed quickly, fairly, and effectively and the limited window that exists to influence those measures given government targets, that the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities call as a witness the Parliamentary Budget Officer during the week of May 4 to May 8 to answer questions on the tracking of budget 2009 infrastructure and other stimulus spending, including but not limited to the number of jobs being created and the regional distribution of the stimulus spending.

Je peux répéter en français, si vous voulez.

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

Debate?

Monsieur Laframboise.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Kennedy, this isn't the first time you've moved to debate the infrastructure issue here. However, the program was negotiated with the Quebec government barely a month ago. The conditions are not yet known. It isn't just the federal government's responsibility, but also that of the Quebec government. In my opinion, debating this matter in this committee while excluding Quebec is out of the question. I couldn't talk about any issue in view of the fact that they're not yet ready in Quebec.

As for the other Canadian provinces, I can understand why you wanted to discuss the infrastructure question immediately. That might be possible in a month and a half, once all the conditions are known, but they aren't all known in Quebec. Furthermore, the Quebec government has a share of the responsibility. I can't support your motion, not because I don't want to, but because I am unable to discuss it for Quebec at this time. However, I understand why you are impatient. You should check with your Quebec members and the Quebec government. The Quebec municipalities don't even know the program or barely know it. So I am simply forced to vote against this motion. It's too soon for us.

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

Mr. Bevington.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

I think it's an excellent motion, and I would agree that this process should begin as soon as possible. It is our responsibility to ensure that the infrastructure programs are being handled in a judicious fashion, and I think this is an excellent opportunity to set the ground rules. I have asked for the past two months for representations from the department to give us, first, the outline of the infrastructure programs in detail, and second, an opportunity to question the department about how these funds are going to be allocated. This hasn't happened, so I'm with Mr. Kennedy, and I hope the rest of the committee recognizes how important it is for us to understand these programs.

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

First of all, my understanding is that it's actually outside of the Parliamentary Budget Officer's mandate. He's mandated to appear in front of three committees, and this is not one of them.

The other problem I have is that this is dated for this week. I believe Mr. Kennedy is a full member. This is the second time he has appeared for a motion at the end of the committee. My difficulty with this is that it's not just the steering committee that recently set the agenda for the committee; rather, it was the entire committee itself. I'm not certain if Mr. Kennedy was actually at that meeting. Alberta is not ready for the question about infrastructure, and many other parts of Canada aren't either.

So it is beyond the mandate of the Parliamentary Budget Officer to be at this committee—I don't think he's even allowed to be here. In addition, it's a premature application that goes against the spirit of cooperation of the committee, which set its agenda just three or four meetings ago.

I don't understand why Mr. Kennedy shows up at the beginning of the parade to set the agenda for a motion. I find it difficult to move forward with the agenda of the committee if you're going to appear just to move a motion rather than to deal with the substantive part of the agenda of the committee itself, which is legislation.

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

Excuse me, Mr. Kennedy. I have to abide by the Standing Orders, and they say that once the bells call us to the House we must immediately suspend the sitting, unless I have the unanimous consent of members.

Do I have unanimous consent to continue with the meeting?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Vice-Chair (Hon. Joseph Volpe), Liberal, Joe Volpe]

The meeting is adjourned.