Veterans Affairs Committee on Jan. 30th, 2023

[The Clerk]

As the chair said, the expenses for Toronto are only presented as a summary based on trips made for other committees. This is a provisional amount and will remain so until we know exactly where the witnesses will be coming from and whether they will be testifying in person or virtually. This is only an estimate. We have provided an amount for each city in Canada. I chose the biggest cities and I provided an estimate based on the number of people on the list of witnesses. This list may change once the witnesses confirm their attendance. The amount indicated is the maximum amount.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

I guess I just struggle a little bit. I generally don't get too worked up over these committee budgets, but I do struggle a little bit with that number. When I look at Vancouver at $2,000, I think, okay, I know flights from Vancouver can be expensive, but for Toronto it is almost the same number and it's a heck of a lot closer and it costs nowhere near $1,500 to fly to Ottawa from Toronto. I guess there's a night in a hotel in there and whatnot, but I just feel we should try to at least make some effort to be realistic with the numbers. That one seems high. I don't know how this works, but if someone wanted to take advantage of that, they could get a pretty nice suite in a hotel for the evening for that price.

[The Clerk]

For example, if there is accommodation, we have a capped fee for that, so that's not negotiable if people ask. However, as I said, there is no cap on the flights. It's just a flex flight because sometimes a committee meeting can be cancelled, so that's the recommendation they have.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Is there any limitation on the type of fare that someone can use?

[The Clerk]

There is.

There's a cap, so, for example, it's for economy and not business.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

The only reason I'm pressing this is that it does seem like a high number.

In that case, what it boils down to is that this is a maximum amount and because there is a cap on the hotel and there's a cap on the fare class, we really wouldn't reach that number unless there was a really good reason for it. Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you. I heard that those kinds of things should be discussed in the subcommittee, and I agree.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

I move to support it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

You support it too.

Are there any other interventions on that proposal, on that budget?

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt this budget of a maximum $19,000?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I will now speak to the witnesses.

Do forgive us for that discussion.

I would like to thank you for your contribution to our study and your testimony.

I would remind committee members that this afternoon, we have heard Ms. Mary Beth MacLean, a PhD candidate at Queen's University, and Mr. Serge Blais, the executive director of the Professional Development Institute at the University of Ottawa.

Is it the will of the committee to adjourn the meeting?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I would like to thank all the interpreters and technical staff.

The meeting is adjourned.