Evidence of meeting #2 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was witnesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
February 5th, 2009 / 9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
We don't need seconders at committee level, but you're moving it with an amendment?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Okay.
Any questions or comments?
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
On distribution of documents, it states that the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the committee only documents that are available in both official languages.
Can I get somebody to put it on the floor?
Monsieur Bigras.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
I have one other friendly amendment: that the clerk be advised to advise all witnesses appearing before the committee of this requirement.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
The documents often come to us in one official language and then we don't have access to them in a timely fashion. We can't read them ahead of time. I think it's a common practice, but we might as well put it down.
Conservative
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I have a question for clarification. When witnesses appear before committee, do we translate for them?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Right, but if they have documents they want to circulate, they have to be in both official languages. It's one thing to have the interpretation coming from the booth as they make their presentations--
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
--but the documents on the table have to be in both official languages.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Do they have to translate them or do they submit them and we will do it?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
No. If they put them in on in time, they'll get translated, but there has to be some lead time to get the work done.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I haven't seen the documents that are made available to people who testify before us. Are they given that information? Are they being informed that it can be translated?
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
This really speaks to a concern I think a lot of us have about witnesses and their appearances. It's not only the need to make sure the documents or decks that are distributed, or presentations, are timely and provided to us in both official languages. I don't know to what extent this committee would wish to make it a condition precedent for appearance if you don't show up here having given your documentation two or three days in advance so the clerk can get it translated into English or French. Furthermore, as Ms. Duncan was alluding to, for a lot of witnesses--having been on the other side, having appeared before being elected many times in standing committees as a witness--it's very difficult to know what's expected of you.
I don't know to what extent you get guidance. You're told you have seven minutes, and you have materials that will preferably be distributed in both languages. But that's not always very helpful, and I'm not sure it's always helpful to us in terms of what we're looking at--if it's the Species at Risk Act or another study, whatever the subject matter.
I just want to deposit this here for everybody's consideration. I'm not sure if it's linked exactly to this distribution of documents question, but I think it's opened the door. What do we ask these witnesses to do? To what extent are we clear about our expectations of them if we're bringing them in by teleconference, or if they're coming in? When someone comes in from an organization and spends three or five minutes out of seven telling us about their organization, I guess that's important, but if it's three or four minutes from a seven-minute talk that ought to be dedicated to the merits of the issues we're looking at, that's another question.
From my experience, a lot of witnesses don't know what's expected of them. They're called, they show up, they're not briefed. They don't necessarily receive information in advance. I don't want to make it too onerous here, but it would certainly make it more productive for us.
Conservative
