Evidence of meeting #65 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
Nathan, I would respond to you that I have full confidence in Mr. Mills as the chair.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
He's resigned. Whether you have confidence in Mr. Mills or not, he's—
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
No. I can make a statement in respect of that.
For Mr. McGuinty to say that he has full confidence in the chair, what double-speak and hypocrisy is that? He's just expressed that in a--
Liberal
Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON
If I can interrupt for a second, I'd like to nominate Mike Allen. I think he would be a good, impartial chair, seeing that we don't have a chair anymore.
Conservative
NDP
The Clerk
I do have a motion from Mr. Rota to the effect of nominating Mr. Mike Allen as chair.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Rota that Mr. Allen be elected as chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions to that effect?
Conservative
Mike Allen Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
Can I comment on that?
The short or front-end answer to that is I decline the nomination.
I have known Bob Mills for 17 months and he's always been a man I respect. He's not a pawn, as he's been referred to by Mr. McGuinty.
You referred to him as a pawn.
Conservative
Mike Allen Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
Absolutely. Check your Hansard.
Having said that, why would anybody want to take the chair and put themselves in a position like Mr. Mills and be subjected to that?
From my perspective, he's a tremendous individual and has done a tremendous service to the environment and to this committee over a number of years, and he's the man for the job.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Yes, I would like to nominate Mr. Luc Harvey for the position of chair.
The Clerk
It has been proposed by Monsieur Bernard Bigras that Mr. Luc Harvey be elected as chair of the committee.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt this motion?
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
I am really pleased that my friend Bernard has thought of me, but given what has been said by our Chairman, Bob Mills, and the fact that I would have taken exactly the same action, that is, I would have made sure there were witnesses today and that the chairman's duties were fulfilled, I do not see how I could be chair of the committee. I therefore decline the nomination.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
I don't have a motion, but just a question for the government members. Do they, as government, intend to propose anyone to sit as chair of the standing committee?
Conservative
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Clerk, if I could suggest, as it doesn't seem we're proceeding today, could we at least let our witnesses on the phone go? I think there is some interest in not having them witness this debacle.
