Environment committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. The budget goes by studies, so if we're going to undertake a major study, for example, if it involves travelling or many witnesses or a teleconference, then I would prepare a budget, which would have to be approved by this committee, along with a work plan.

Environment committee  Just very briefly, Mr. Chair, perhaps I can answer some of those questions. There is a standard guideline, prepared by the House, that is given to witnesses. I have a copy I could send to you. In terms of this committee, what we've normally done, Tim and I.... Certainly I send letters to the witnesses and phone them.

Environment committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Scarpaleggia, it seems like it was a long time ago, but I seem to recall we had hearings that included people from Europe in a teleconference, and unfortunately a water valve broke in the city of Ottawa. All buildings had to be vacated. Therefore, the meeting had to be cancelled.

Environment committee  Mr. Chair, thank you. I would presume that any meeting held by this committee would have been discussed at the subcommittee. You've adopted a motion at the subcommittee, of which the government is a member, so that's where your hearing would flow, from the subcommittee. That would be one measure of protection, I presume.

Environment committee  That's correct, sir.

Environment committee  You're asking very good questions, Mr. Warawa. As you pointed out, any decision by the steering committee has to be approved by the full committee.

Environment committee  No, sir, unless the chair so requested.

Environment committee  The purpose of this motion is to ensure that when you don't have your full quorum, the chair can receive evidence. The chair in this instance is from the government. The committee cannot make any decisions. It cannot change agendas. All it can do is receive evidence. It's to ensure that if we have someone travelling from out west or from the east, we can receive evidence.

Environment committee  I believe we encountered that problem last year where we had a vice-chair in the chair. So in theory you could have a situation where you would have only opposition members.

Environment committee  Typically, when I receive an amendment, I call the member or the MP's office or I confirm by e-mail. It's simply a courtesy.

Environment committee  The motions that were passed are the ones you have before you. The word used in English is “filed”, and in French, it is “déposée”. Earlier, I said that if a member sends a paper document from his or her office by messenger, there is no way for me to get that document before the next day.

Environment committee  Yes, it is an acknowledgment of receipt.

Environment committee  It means it's sent to me, for example, by e-mail, and I actually have it. I can see it. Sometimes members--well, all of us--send documents by e-mail, but we inadvertently send it to the wrong address. You could have a member who says it was sent to me last night, but if I didn't receive it then I don't have it.

Environment committee  Yes, I can verify it. I can phone your caucus and ask, “Do you really want to do this? There seems to be a contradiction”, or whatever.

Environment committee  Yes, a confirmation or receipt.