Transport Committee on March 27th, 2012

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

TRANSPORT

Transport

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$552,555,000

Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$114,242,000

Vote 10—Grants and contributions..........$1,184,718,000

Canada Post Corporation

Vote 15—Payments to the Canada Post Corporation for special purposes..........$22,210,000

Canadian Air Transport Security Authority

Vote 20—Payments to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority for operating and capital expenditures..........$576,398,000

Canadian Transportation Agency

Vote 25—Program expenditures..........$23,795,000

The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited

Vote 30—Payments to The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited..........$14,983,000

Marine Atlantic Inc.

Vote 35—Payments to Marine Atlantic Inc...........$185,376,000

Office of Infrastructure of Canada

Vote 40—Operating expenditures..........$55,006,000

Vote 45—Contributions..........$5,045,585,000

The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc.

Vote 50—Payments to the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc...........$150,363,000

Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada

Vote 55—Program expenditures..........$1,285,000

VIA Rail Canada Inc.

Vote 60—Payments to VIA Rail Canada Inc............$306,490,000

(Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 agreed to)

Shall I report votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60, under Transport, to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

With that, I will advise the committee of the following. Hoping or suspecting that Monsieur Coderre's motion would pass, even with amendments, I have taken the liberty to invite guests to attend on Thursday. We have had confirmation from Air Canada executives, and we've had some confirmation of government officials. But I would ask the committee, because of the gentleman who's coming in from Air Canada, if we could start at 8:30, on Thursday, as opposed to 8:45.

Monsieur Coderre.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

He's taking the “red eye” or what?

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

WestJet.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

He's on WestJet, like your Minister of Industry.

Mr. Chair, I believe that when we're talking about the leadership of Air Canada, I'm expecting that you will also ask some of the members of the board of the directors. I would like to see Monsieur Pierre Marc Johnson, who has been there since 2006, to also come. It's not just about the executive. I want to see what the board of directors knows about the way things are working in Air Canada, and their great relationship with Aveos and their workers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

If you are asking for specific names, we would probably have to have that presented as a motion. We could offer the invitation to the president and board members, but if you're looking for someone specific—

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Do I need a motion?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

And that would be subject to the committee's debate.

Mr. Coderre, do you have a comment?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

I'm moving the motion that members of the board of directors from Air Canada should be invited. They are accountable. I believe they have to be there.

I move that certain people, like Pierre Marc Johnson, be here. I could move a motion for the board members and give you a list of potential witnesses. Meanwhile, I am not only interested in finding out how the presidents or former presidents have behaved, as relevant as that might be. I also want to find out whether, in the past, the board of directors was aware of or witnessed anything that happened during the process.

I could simply say that the Air Canada board members should also be summoned, and I could provide you with a list of people at the appropriate time. At the very least, we should specify that, when we are talking about people from Air Canada, that includes the Air Canada board members.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I would advise the committee that we are out of time, if we want to have further debate or vote on this motion, because it does impact the guests who we invite on Thursday.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Would it make sense if the minister has a report or something for us to look at before?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

The minister has said that he would provide us with legal opinion on the Aveos situation by Thursday.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I will ask the department if we can get it to the members before the meeting.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Because it would shade what we say to the Air Canada.... It would actually make a difference.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Okay. I'm going to call the vote on Monsieur Coderre's motion that would invite Air Canada executive and specific members, and we have made a list.

(Motion negatived)

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Oh, they're protecting them too.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

With that, I will confirm with the members. Watch your mail. I just want to advise about one last piece of business. Check your calendars. On Thursday, the meeting will take place at 1 Wellington, Room C-160, at 8:30.

Thank you.

The meeting is adjourned.