Evidence of meeting #67 for Veterans Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was witnesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
The only comment I want to make, Mr. Chair, is with respect to Ms. Wagantall's motion. With respect, I think it may be premature. If, after hearing from the two ministers for an hour, we feel that another hour is necessary, it might be appropriate to move and consider the motion then. Maybe we'll feel that the ground is well enough covered, and if it isn't, then I would think....
We'll be better informed to make that call after we hear from them for an hour. That's my point.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
I would like to hear what the mover of the motion, Mr. Desilets, has to say on the subject.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I don't want there to be any confusion.
There are two motions on the table. The first of the two, which was agreed to by the committee, is to have the two ministers appear, for a total of two hours. I really like Mr. Casey's reaction that we might get what we need after an hour.
My motion deals with witnesses. If I'm not mistaken, we should be debating it, voting on it, adopting it, and so on. The fact that these people will appear after our meeting with the witnesses, if necessary, is extraordinary.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Mr. Desilets, at the beginning of the meeting, you talked about a notice of motion that you wanted to present.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
No. There's some confusion about that, which is why I wanted to make the distinction between the two motions. I have already put forward a motion.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
No. We're in the same areas. I think the motion that Ms. Wagantall wanted to propose could be proposed at a later date, following those meetings.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
In short, if I understand correctly, we'll be able to issue the notice of meeting, since the ministers and the three witnesses have been invited. We'll hold that meeting next Tuesday.
As for Thursday, the clerk is doing everything he can to make sure we have the session on trauma. We're here listening to all the witnesses, and I can tell you that even for us as members of Parliament, it's extremely difficult. It would be a good idea to hold this session as soon as possible, given that there are still eight or nine other meetings on the experiences of women veterans.
Is it the will of the committee then to adjourn?
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I just put my motion on notice. We either have to debate it or vote on it.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON
Thank you.
Not to cut off Mr. Desilets, but I am confused as well, because I thought we were potentially going to a vote here. However, I'm wondering if I could speak to this a bit. Again, I'm a little concerned about mission creep on this issue, and I recognize and respect that the member has the right to move this motion. I wonder if he's open to a friendly amendment to reduce this to one hour. We might be able to support that.
The reason, frankly, is that we're talking about two witnesses for two hours, which, with respect, I think is a lot. Again, I will come back to the study that we have in front of us. It is critical, and it's essential. I think that that's a lot of time to dedicate to two witnesses on this issue. I'll be honest: I think we'll struggle with trying to fill that time with questions.
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, correct me if I'm wrong.
I submitted two people that I'd like to see, but if the study goes ahead, anyone can call other witnesses. Am I mistaken?
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I already have a third witness in mind.
I think you have the right reason to vote against my motion. That's wonderful. Having said that, I'm keeping two-hour meetings with the witnesses.
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I'm going to submit their name. It would be a member of the jury that helped choose the monument.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON
Does the motion include that? I think the motion just includes the two companies, so is the motion now changing? I'm sorry. Maybe I'm getting ahead of this, but again, this is getting bigger and bigger. I want to have some clarification on what we're actually talking about here.
The motion I have in front of me mentions two witnesses for two hours. Regardless of whether it's two or three, I still think that is excessive. I think we can accomplish in an hour what Mr. Desilets wants to accomplish. In that additional hour that we would have on that day, we could....
It's all right. I'm talking to myself here.
5:30 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON
I'm sorry. I realize that I was talking to myself for a minute there. I think that we could use that additional hour to invite witnesses from the women's study. I'm sure the clerk is able to do that.
I am concerned now that Mr. Desilets is saying that there's a third witness. That's news to this side, so if we could get clarification from him as to what this third witness conversation is about....
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
5:30 p.m.
The Clerk
The committee agreed to study the national monument on March 9. Mr. Desilets asked for two ministers for two hours, which was adopted. They're available for one hour, which I believe the committee's agreeing to have next Tuesday. Then Mr. Desilets is essentially saying that, if the study continues afterwards, then he would invite, on top of the two witnesses in his motion, other witnesses if other parties wish to continue with the study.
5:35 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, that's not exactly what I said.
The beginning is perfect. I simply want a two-hour meeting on the monument with witnesses. I proposed two witnesses to you, but anyone could suggest others. I am suggesting a third to you now. Otherwise, I would have contacted you this week to see if we could call this other witness. That's what I'm saying. I want nothing more. I only want two hours about the monument with witnesses. Right now, we have two witnesses, but I will very likely be calling a third too.