Veterans Affairs Committee on Dec. 6th, 2007

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

I have just one thing, because it would be disingenuous of me if I wasn't on the record when I mentioned the $130,000 last time for Afghanistan.

Certainly, in service to our veterans, we want to do the best we can to investigate all our concerns in giving recommendations to the government for PTSD. It's $165,000. It's a cost. We need to invest it, considering it's a number of.... How many sites are there? Six in total?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I suspect, Mr. Sweet, having been the committee's arguer at liaison last time, that cost considerations were not the primary reason we weren't able to carry that off, although I know you mentioned that in previous discussions on the motion. I told Mr. Valley that if at some point he wishes to bring forward an idea of travelling to Cyprus for the debriefing that happens with regard to post-traumatic stress disorders for people serving in theatre, that may be looked upon more favourably.

Anyhow, this is what we have before us today. We have Mr. Sweet's--

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Just a comment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

--intervention or comment.

Sorry, Mr. Cannan, yes.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just clarifying: 16 people can go to Quebec City for one day?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Mr. Cannan, the way I see it, sir, is that it's the full committee in each case, in all cases. So there have been no exceptions made with regard to that, and that's including, of course, the clerk, the analyst, etc.

You're asking why?

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Why is it $30,000 to fly from here to Quebec City and back?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I think if you flip around the back page, you'll see that it's a matter of flights. One is ground transportation, the other is flights.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Is that a charge, though?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Yes.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Members who can, and wish to or are so inclined to, can offer their points. It still costs, but at least we're not using two budgets.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

That's a fair point.

Mr. Cannan, if you wish to use your Air Canada points, you are more than welcome to.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

It doesn't cost $1,600 to fly from here to Quebec City. I could fly across the country for cheaper than that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I'm going to let the clerks and the researcher respond.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Alexandre Roger]

When the logistics officer called, that's the quote we got for the time of year when we're going. Obviously if we find that a charter is cheaper, the money that is over budget will come back in that case. But we always go with what is cheapest. That is the quote we got. If members use their points, as was mentioned, then the money comes back as well.

So it's just a budget maximum so that we're safe.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

I'll help out my friend Ron. Perversely, it's cheaper to travel from B.C. to here. With my riding, I fly from here to Sudbury and then I drive two hours to home. The flight from Sudbury to here return is almost this much, and it's a fraction of the way home to B.C. It's perverse, but that's the way it is. This doesn't surprise me.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Mr. Valley.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

The points option may be for some members. It's certainly not for me. I don't have enough points. I'm always out.

On the other side of the coin too, it costs a lot more. I have four planes every week, so it's $2,700 to get me here every week. It's very expensive to come from where I come from.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I understand. I'm very fortunate that I live in a hub, in Calgary.

Yes, Monsieur Gaudet.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I would just like to point something out to Mr. Cannan. It costs $846 to go to the Magdalen Islands from Montreal. To fly to Vancouver, it costs $600. I am in Quebec, and the flight between Montreal and the Magdalen Islands lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes. The flight between Montreal and Vancouver lasts five hours. That means it costs less to fly to Vancouver than to the Magdalen Islands.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Such is the nature of volumes with regard to air traffic. These are situations of market supply and demand, gentlemen.

Do I have approval from committee to take this to liaison, then?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Thank you very much.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

If they don't agree, we'll choke them.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!