Evidence of meeting #21 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was departments.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Ron Thompson  Interim Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Andrew Ferguson  Principal, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Richard Arseneault  Principal, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Mary Anne Strong  Project Leader, Office of the Auditor General of Canada

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

To be clear, we haven't talked about it.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Mills

Then he will not be able to vote, and we won't have achieved an awful lot. It has to be named by the full committee, not by the steering committee. They can't make decisions. All of them must be made by the main committee.

While we have the main committee here and we haven't adjourned the meeting, if everybody agrees, we should do it. Then we don't have to bring it back and discuss it. We can't carry on with the meeting until we do this.

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

I'd like not to get hung up on this particular part of the conversation. I hear what you're saying in terms of the procedure. I think it's due course to hear from the other opposition parties particularly, and the government as well.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Mills

Sure.

I'd like some input.

Mr. Bigras, did you have a brief comment, and then Mr. McGuinty and Mr. Warawa?

Mr. Warawa.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC

Thank you, Chair.

The norm is that the parliamentary secretary would be on the steering committee—if we have a steering committee. If anything is sent to the steering committee, the norm would be that I would be on that committee—I, or whomever the parliamentary secretary is—so that you would get the government's perspective on that, which will hopefully make the discussions at the committee more efficient.

This committee, as we've heard time and time again, has the right to be its own master. So if the motion is made today that I not be temporary but a member of the steering committee, and in the future—which could be at any time—the committee wants to change their mind, then it could be reconsidered.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Mills

It has to be done by the main committee. That's the point.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC

But I would prefer that it be simple, that I'm a member of the committee.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Mills

Mr. Cullen.

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Perhaps, despite recent experience and better judgment, I will then move that the parliamentary secretary become a permanent member of the steering committee and that we move to look over the schedule for the next 30 to 60 days.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Mills

Is there any discussion on that?

(Motion agreed to)

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Then I would move that the meeting be adjourned.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bob Mills

We'll go to a steering committee meeting.

This meeting is adjourned.