Canadian Heritage Committee on Nov. 22nd, 2017

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Michael MacPherson]

Yes, basically we've had a production meeting with the various services that are involved in producing a report. The time estimate of the earliest time we can get the report back and distribute it to the committee would be December 8.

It is still being drafted now. After it's finished being drafted, it will go to translation services. They have a service standard that they meet. They can only do so many words a day, and this is a busy time of year. Every committee is trying to get a report in, basically. After translation services, it goes to publication services. Everything is in the proper channels and there really is nothing more to be done to speed it along at this point.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

I just find December 8 to be an incredibly long time. It's already been two weeks with the administration. The eighth is at least another two weeks. Is there any way we can get it back by December 1?

[The Clerk]

It's really out of our hands. It's going to translation on Tuesday. My understanding is that the drafters are going to be working on it all weekend just to meet that deadline. Unless we instruct the analysts to stop drafting now and go with what has already been written, as an incomplete report...and you'd only gain a few days doing that.

Right now it's out of our hands. It's just that this is the process and this is just how long it takes to produce a report of that size.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Peter Van Loan]

It is what it is.

Mr. Reid.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

May I inquire as to what that size is likely to be? That's why I think we really do have to go to Erin to answer.

[Erin Virgint, Committee Researcher]

We're looking at around 40 to 50 pages.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

This is exclusive of any recommendations.

[Erin Virgint]

Exactly.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

This is essentially a summary of testimony, major topics, laid out in the manner described in that meeting at which you proposed or laid out a possible outline, and then reviewed it. That's what we're talking about.

[Erin Virgint]

Exactly, yes.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

If I might go back then to the clerk, did you say December 8 is the earliest date, or is an actual date we can be certain of?

[The Clerk]

We can never say “guaranteed”, but when we had our production meeting that was our best estimate of when we could have it back. Everyone felt comfortable that December 8 would be doable.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

All right. I just ask that for scheduling purposes. The eighth is what day of the week?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Peter Van Loan]

It's a Friday.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

That's the Friday before the final week that we sit prior to rising.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Peter Van Loan]

Correct.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

We're likely to have two meetings at which we could deal with the content of the report, I would gather, assuming the House rises when anticipated. Is that correct?

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Yes, I'm looking at the calendar.

To clarify, it's going to translation on Tuesday the 28th. How long does it take to translate?

[Erin Virgint]

They said five days for 40 pages.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

That brings you to beyond the first. Under these timelines, we're likely to be studying this into February, unless we can actually nail it—

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Or debating it anyway.... The study portion is done. I'm not sure that's an unrealistic expectation.

Here's a question, if you don't mind.

Mr. Chair, I'm taking liberties. I should be—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Peter Van Loan]

You are.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

May I...?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Peter Van Loan]

Yes. I'm trying to avoid.... The chair had encouraged us not to discuss committee business at this meeting. I'm trying to respect that but I will indulge you.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Thank you.

The eighth is the best estimate. That's a Friday. If it was done, for the sake of argument, a couple of days earlier, we could then actually have a meeting on the sixth within our schedule. I don't want to put you in a position of.... I don't want to squeeze a promise out of you. I merely ask whether that is within the realm of possibility, as opposed to non-possibility. I guess I'm looking at the clerk for this because you're dealing with all the different things.