Environment Committee on Nov. 15th, 2007

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

I'm just wondering, because time is running out on us, if there was some consensus in the room, I'm thinking that perhaps we might even think of inviting the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development next Tuesday to deliver the report, which was part of the larger package of the Auditor General. This is a fairly routine matter; this is the committee to which that person reports. It was an important report. I think that would allow us to get going. Provided the commissioner is not out of town, it's a relatively easy thing to do.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Cullen, you had a comment on this.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

If that Tuesday meeting is taken up with that, at what point will the committee actually establish itself? If that's happening, then I think the subcommittee or some group should meet on Monday to set out the next plans. If we go through Tuesday with this, with no planning for Thursday, we're going to lose the few days available to us.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

One other option would be to tell the commissioner he has an hour and a half, and in the last half hour we deal with future business and make some decisions as to Thursday and the following week.

I have to advise the committee that I am going to a climate change conference in London from the 27th to the 29th--just to let you know there are no games being played. I have agreed to represent Canada at that meeting.

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Not knowing that this was your plan, we may wish to have the minister in on those same dates to talk for 15 minutes, plus 45 minutes of questions, about the Bali meeting, and give indication of the plans of the government.

I just thought I'd get that in.

Then perhaps we could have some expert witnesses as well during that week, because that would be a logical lead-up to Bali, despite your absence.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Is that all right then? On Tuesday we'll have one and a half hours, and a half hour.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Can I suggest one hour and one hour, because the clock's been running?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Is one hour long enough for the commissioner? I know he can do it in an hour. Okay, so it will be one hour and one hour. Planning for future business will be in the second hour.

Mr. Warawa.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

I agree with that. The commissioner will go first, and then we'll have the second hour?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Yes.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

We haven't talked about the chair's discretion, but I suggest in that round, if we only have one hour, maybe we could keep the questions to five minutes each so everybody gets a chance.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

I've always asked for and received cooperation from you that when we have only one hour, the maximum number get a chance. Five minutes seems to be reasonable to do that.

The meeting is adjourned.