Evidence of meeting #38 for Canadian Heritage in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was programs.
A recording is available from Parliament.
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Okay, that's fine. I was just going offer to extend that to the fourth, September 2 to September 4. But if you just want to have it September 2, I guess it's September 2.
2:45 p.m.
Some hon. members
Yes.
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. Chairman, I just have a question. The clerk is going to get the list by Friday, and it's a long weekend. September 2 is the Tuesday. So when am I going to get the list? I live in Prince George, B.C. When am I going to get the list? Would I get it on Tuesday?
2:45 p.m.
Procedural Clerk, Table Research Branch, House of Commons
It depends on when I get it. As soon as I get it, I will send it to all members, but--
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
But don't you have to clarify, from the list, who is actually going to be coming?
2:45 p.m.
Procedural Clerk, Table Research Branch, House of Commons
I will phone the witnesses as soon as I have names.
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
But if you don't finish that on Friday, that means I don't get the list of witnesses who will be attending until Tuesday.
2:45 p.m.
Procedural Clerk, Table Research Branch, House of Commons
No, we have the list of the people you want to hear, but I'm going to call the list that's going to be submitted by members. So I will phone them and make sure they can come on September 2 or September 4.
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
But likely I would not know whether there are witnesses actually coming until some time Tuesday morning. Now, if there is a meeting that day, how do I jump on a plane and get from B.C. to Ottawa to attend a meeting on Tuesday? I mean, it's fine for you; you live in Gatineau or Hull and you just drive across the bridge and you're here. Denis is an hour and a half away, or an hour at the maximum.
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
How do you deduce that I live in Gatineau or Hull? I represent Ottawa--Vanier, sir.
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Oh, okay, you're even closer. So it's easy for you.
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
In all fairness, could we change it to September 3 and take a happy medium? We voted on September 2, but could there be a friendly amendment that we put it to September 3 to at least give people a chance to get back?
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Chair, the reason I said September 2 and September 4 is that on September 3 and on the morning of September 4, we can't manage it. We have a national caucus in Winnipeg; the Liberal Party has its own caucus. So on September 2 it would be feasible, as long as you have the list and you manage it. That's why we say that if everything is in order, we can have that meeting on September 2.
2:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
That'll be confirmed, then, by the clerk on Friday afternoon.
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Well, I don't agree with that. With all due respect, Mr. Coderre is somehow indicating that if it's convenient for the Liberal members of the committee, then it's fine. If it's not convenient for them on September 3 and September 4, well, then it's not okay to meet on those days, but September 2--because it may be convenient for them, but not convenient for someone like me who lives in B.C.--is okay. I don't understand that kind of logic.
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
The logic is simple, because as members of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, we usually have our meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It would fit; it would be perfect. We consider that it's like business as usual.
Now, you've been replacing somebody. Maybe somebody from the Conservative caucus could be available too. We'll miss you, but if you can't come, you can have somebody come who can decide very strongly--
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. Chairman, the member may or may not know if I've requested to serve on this committee during these committee meetings. So he's making an assumption that because I'm not a regular member of this committee, I would not be at the next meeting.
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
I understand. We're getting into some bantering again and I know we're playing a little bit of a chess game.
I had made a suggestion that was probably one of the most feasible suggestions and would have sufficed for everyone. The Liberal Party does have a caucus next week, and usually when there is a caucus we do not hold committee meetings. At the same time, some of our people have to come all the way from Vancouver on a holiday weekend. I know this is a very important issue to so many people, but just maybe around this table we can have a little civility here today, a little bit of respect for each other, and maybe go back to what I had suggested before. Hopefully we can put something together.
I know we've already voted on having it on September 2. The only thing I can say we will do--
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Mr. Chair, we had a question that they've stuck their hand up on, but we haven't had a vote.
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Okay, so we haven't had a vote.
I haven't been writing down all the various things. I know that we voted on a question and things, but all I'm wondering is if we can come to a consensus to make this work for everyone.
Mr. Coderre.
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
My only concern with your statement is that you said we were lacking respect. We all have respect for each other, so I don't know where it's coming from.
What I would propose, though, is that since the Liberals will be ready, the NDP would be ready, I'm sure, and the Bloc, and my colleague from the Conservative Party....
So instead of submitting the list by Friday at noon, we can do so by Thursday at noon.
It's the same thing in principle. We're tabling our witness list for Thursday at noon. I know everybody is ready; I am. You'll have an extra day to organize yourself so that on Friday you'll be okay and we can manage to have that gathering on September 2.
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Mr. Del Mastro, and then Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris, I think you had your hand up first.