The second motion.
Evidence of meeting #5 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
Evidence of meeting #5 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
11:15 a.m.
A voice
The second motion.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
The second motion, I'm sorry. Now we have motion number two.
Mr. Atamanenko, do you have any points to make on that?
11:15 a.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
There's also an amendment to the second motion that Mr. Easter has, following the same procedure.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
It just makes it a little clearer, Mr. Chair, but both really, in effect, mean the same thing, so I'm not overly concerned about the amendment. The amendment would say that the Standing Committee on Agriculture support a request from this committee that the Auditor General undertake an investigation into the possible misuse of rail hopper car maintenance costs since 1992.
The previous motion said “support the idea that the Auditor General undertake”. Maybe somebody who's better at words than I am could tell us whether they both mean the same thing. I really think what we have here is a case where the railways have been clearly gouging the farm communities on freight rates over inflated maintenance costs, and that's now known. Having the Auditor General undertake an investigation into the possible misuse of rail hopper cars maintenance costs since 1992 by the railways would be, I think, an important step.
To be honest with you, I don't know whether the amendment's absolutely necessary; I just think it makes it more specific.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
So the amendment you're proposing would change “idea” to “request”, basically.
11:15 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
The words “support the idea” would be dropped in favour of “support a request from this committee”.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Any discussion on the amendment?
(Amendment agreed to)
(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
11:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your patience and perseverance.
This meeting is adjourned.