Canadian Heritage Committee on May 8th, 2023

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I believe that it's very important for the Auditor General to appear before the committee in connection with this information. Indeed, as Mr. Bittle said, it has more to do with the standing industry committee. On the other hand, if we want to spend more time on content and news to which people don't have access, that's another matter.

It's important to make sure which is most appropriate. I think that it pertains mostly to the standing industry and technology committee, which is no doubt in a better position to do much of the work, and even deal with some of the matters that fall under the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

I'm curious to hear what the other members of the committee think. I would tend to say that it might be a bit much for two committees to send an invitation for the Auditor General to appear.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Go ahead, Marilyn, and then Peter.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My concern is this: Even though the motion has been brought forward at the industry committee, they have numerous things on their agenda. I'm not sure whether they've agreed to schedule it or where that is at.

That said, there are monies coming out of Heritage towards this effort. I would at least be interested in knowing what those are and how successful they've been in achieving the objective.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I don't know whether the industry committee has agreed to and adopted the motion. We're just discussing a motion. We haven't adopted it yet. I just want to point that out. We're just trying to get a sense of what everyone thinks.

Go ahead, Peter.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

I support it and hope we vote on it in the next six minutes, Madam Chair.

I understand there is an overlap. There is no doubt. Industry can choose to do that as well. The difficulty may be scheduling, because we have a lot of things on our radar screen. That being said, I think the idea of adopting a motion and putting it into the hopper is not a bad one, and I support it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Go ahead, Mrs. Thomas.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Madam Chair, my understanding from the clerk, and perhaps I'll seek his confirmation, is that the industry committee has not passed a motion.

The clerk confirms that the industry committee has not passed a motion. That's interesting to me, then.

The Auditor General has written to both committees saying that she would be happy to appear at both committees. It was not framed as either/or. Seeing as how we're the first to discuss this and the first to bring it to a vote, there is absolutely no reason that we can't be the ones to host it. The industry committee can make a decision. If they feel that they're potentially being repetitive, then they can call it off on their end. There is no reason that we should be holding back from doing the important work that we're called to do as a committee. A part of it is certainly to hear from the Auditor General in this regard, so I would ask for a vote at this time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I was going to say that if everyone wants us to finish this on the dot, as Peter is suggesting, it will depend on the committee members to limit their conversation.

Does anyone else wish to speak for or against?

I will call the question.

Is there a sense that there's unanimous consent, or will we go back to questions?

Go ahead, Martin.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I'd like to check something before the vote, Madam Chair.

My understanding is that the motion has not yet been debated at the standing industry and technology committee. This committee has therefore not yet decided whether to invite the Auditor General. We're going to be the first to have to decide whether to do so or not.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes, I think that's what Mrs. Thomas was pointing out.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

That's what I thought. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Tim is next. Be quick, please.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Could someone read the motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I can read it for you:

That, considering the Auditor General report tabled on Monday, March 27th titled “the Progress on access to high-speed Internet and mobile cellular services lags behind for rural and remote communities and First Nations reserves”, the committee invite Karen Hogan, Auditor General of Canada, to testify before committee as soon as possible for no less than 2 hours.

Does everyone have that motion?

We'll call the vote.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

On division.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Okay.

(Motion agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Thank you.

This meeting is adjourned.