Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) Committee on May 3rd, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I'm only trying to commit the first day, Mr. Martin. Lists are flying around.

Mr. Tonks.

[Alan Tonks, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I'll bow to Mr. Martin, because where we're coming from is to get going tomorrow. I think Mr. Martin might have some suggestions vis-à-vis the kind of background that would help us to get started.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Yes.

Mr. Martin, do you have anything else to add?

I don't know where we are on motions, but I think the suggestion is for Minister Baird to come and bring some technical people with him for questions. I don't want to read into what people are saying, but that's the way I interpret this.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

I don't disagree.

The minister usually comes with some technical people. It's not always a technical question. It's more about questions on why they chose this initiative, and why now.

I also want to comment on the kind of tone that's already starting in this committee. We have the parliamentary secretary telling us how things will unfold and telling us that we will get all the technical briefings on every clause-by-clause as we need them.

I'm not here to take direction from another member of this committee. You are equal to me on this committee. You are not the parliamentary secretary and a representative of the government on this committee. As soon as you walk through that door, you are only another committee member. You won't tell us what we're going to do at any point in this process, in my opinion.

The tone is already starting to deteriorate.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

You've made your point, Mr. Martin.

Mr. Tonks.

[Alan Tonks, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Chairman, I would like to say that the sooner we get past tomorrow, the better.

I thought Mr. Martin's point was well taken in terms of technical background, and we've covered that.

If we could set a deadline for next Tuesday, the subcommittee could then meet with you as soon as possible, reflect on the kinds of suggestions that are coming forward, and then state the agenda for the next three or four months, or whatever.

I think you'll find once the subcommittee gets going that there'll be a fair degree of consensus on how to go and report that back to committee, and we're well on our way. I'd like to see us get on with it as soon as possible in that manner.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Mr. Poilievre, and then Ms. Jennings.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

The purpose of my remarks was to avail the committee membership of all of the benefits of the ministry. I'm sorry if Mr. Martin took offence at that offer. If he does take offence at it, he doesn't have to accept the offer. Because I am communicating with the ministry, that is my job.

Is the committee asking me to bring some technical briefings tomorrow? Is there a motion for that, or are we only having a polite conversation? I'm only trying to get a sense of what the committee is asking of the government.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Okay. This is actually your motion, and as I understand it.... Haven't we voted on that?

[The Clerk]

Yes. We agreed that the minister will come, and now we're talking about--

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

So the only issue is the technical people. Do we even need a motion for that? I mean, you're going to bring them. Do we need a motion?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

No, we don't need a motion.

Ms. Jennings, and then Madame Guay.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I'll cede my speaking turn to Madame Guay.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Madame Guay.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Chairman, when we have requests to make, we should be speaking to you. Your clerk is there to help and advise you. She will tell you whether or not these requests are feasible. If we want specialists to appear tomorrow, we should be making that request of you. You, not the committee members, will be making the decision. It is up to Pat to ask you exactly what he wants.

I've never seen such a situation in a committee. We must respect you and always speak through you. We are not supposed to be speaking directly to each other. I would like us to behave with some respect, otherwise things will be chaotic.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Oh yes, indeed.

The chair takes the position that I am here at the will of the committee, and when the committee agrees on something, that's what we'll do.

The way I've interpreted it, what is going to happen tomorrow is that Minister Baird is going to appear with some--to use Mr. Martin's words--“technical people”, or people who have worked on the bill. He will make a presentation and questions will be asked. That's my interpretation.

In answer to you, I believe that it's doable. As far as next week is concerned, Mr. Tonks has made a suggestion, and unless someone speaks to the contrary, I will call a subcommittee meeting perhaps Monday afternoon--we can talk about that--and we'll try to arrange for subsequent meetings. By that time, hopefully, we'll have some lists.

That's my understanding, unless someone wants to correct me.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

We have some other meetings scheduled for the rest of this week. In the interim period, if all the witnesses are going to be submitted by the subcommittee, how are we going to get witnesses here for later in the week?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Tomorrow is Thursday. We have one time tomorrow. Right?

You've got to help me, folks.

Mr. Martin.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

I'll just ask, then, what is the formal deadline for your list for witnesses? I know you would like to have a preliminary list very soon, but what can we say--

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I don't know. I mean, whatever you people tell me to do. My job is to keep it moving, and we can't have blank days, so I trust that....

I don't see how I could have a steering committee meeting until Monday afternoon, and to do that I will need some names if we're going to set something up for Tuesday. So whether it's an interim list or a permanent list, I need some names for the clerk to contact people and arrange--

[The Clerk]

First we need to just get the list together.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Yes.

Any other questions or comments?

Mr. Sauvageau, and then Mr. Lukiwski.

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Chairman, one does not have to be a clairvoyant to predict that some witnesses will appear on the lists put forward by all the parties. We need only look at who will be most affected by Bill C-2. That will help everyone draw up a preliminary list of witnesses. It is not necessary to give the names. The clerk can help you. Subsequently, we will be able to submit a more complete witness list. I think we can already guess at at least 10 of these witnesses.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I'm going to look at some names Monday afternoon with the subcommittee, and we'll see where it goes.

Mr. Lukiwski.