Evidence of meeting #4 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 regulations.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:50 a.m.
Liberal
Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC
May I make an additional point?
Is it possible, then, given that you and Mr. Warawa sit on the steering committee, for the steering committee to meet the week you're away?
10:55 a.m.
Liberal
Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC
It's really a consensus thing. We could all sit down and have a coffee and discuss this. I don't know if we need a formal chair as opposed to just a discussion.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
10:55 a.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
I wouldn't want us to start creating precedents on the committee. I saw, particularly during the last week, that we had informal discussions behind the curtains in the House to try to organize our committee business for the week. I must tell you that I'm not very keen on this idea. This week, it would be all right because we had limits on our time. But I would prefer us to have official meetings, with interpreters so that we can deal with our business more easily, and so that it is done in a fair manner. I wouldn't want us to get into the habit of discussing future business at a table somewhere having a cup of coffee. That's all that I'd like to say.
I understand Mr. Scarpaleggia insofar as it's his proposal. It's clear that he has witnesses he would absolutely like to hear from. I think that we should have a chairman, and it should be you, Mr. Chairman, and I think that you should chair the meeting when we are discussing future business within the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
I kind of agree with you, Mr. Bigras. I don't like having these fluid agendas. We need to get things set and solid, notice properly given so that we have the witnesses we desire to have at those meetings. We need to respect timeframes and we need to respect our clerk, our analysts, and the technical staff in setting meetings. Once we get things booked, I like to stick to them.
Ms. Duncan, and then Mr. Watson.
10:55 a.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Monsieur Bigras makes a valid point. Regrettably, I'm the only one of that group that cannot follow a conversation in French. I don't think it's fair that he should have to speak English, and if you speak French, I'm not going to be able to contribute. But I'm hoping this doesn't end up being a terrible delay.
I'm sorry that I don't have those language skills, but I really hope we can expedite that subcommittee review, because I don't want to have this whole group having to do that. I think it's too large a group. So if we can move it up to the last week of February, if that's at all possible.... But if the earliest is the first week of March, let's not drag that out. We need to agree on the witnesses. We need to get going and do the work on Mr. Scarpaleggia's motion.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would remind the committee that we all accepted a routine motion as to the composition of steering committee and also that we would have it as a mechanism. That includes the chair. It also has a formal responsibility, which is to report to the larger body.
I'm not sure that mechanism would exist in an informal meeting, Mr. Chair, and I think it's important for the broader committee and those of us who aren't on the steering committee to be able to receive something in terms of a report to digest and then vote on.
I'm in favour of ensuring that we have a steering committee meeting as opposed to something less formal.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
My interpretation of the routine motion we made is that it doesn't stop the larger committee from meeting in camera to discuss future business. That's what I'm suggesting we do on Tuesday. We would have a meeting on the Tuesday we come back in order to deal with the agenda and set that agenda, and then all committee members get to have input on that.
On the issue of witnesses, if you want to deal with witnesses that day, that's the committee's will, but the suggestion has been made that we'll deal with witnesses when I'm back the first week of March.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
My comments were directed in that direction with respect to the establishment of witnesses, Mr. Chair.
10:55 a.m.
Liberal
Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC
That's fine, but can we agree? First of all, are steering committee meetings interpreted?
10:55 a.m.
A voice
They are.
10:55 a.m.
Liberal
Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC
They are? Okay, well let's do it on March 2, then, as soon as we get back, rather than the fourth and so on.
If we can have a meeting of the steering committee on Monday, March 2, so that we could report back to the committee on the third, that would be fine by me.
10:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Okay. We can do it just before QP or just after. We'll probably need about an hour, I would think.
10:55 a.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Excuse me. I'm actually on House duty that day, but I'll see if I can switch.
10:55 a.m.
Liberal
Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC
I think they'll allow you to. Our whip allows us to go to committee meetings, so I--
11 a.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I just have to make sure I'm replaced. I'm all for expediting this.
11 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
If it's before QP, it would be possible. After QP, we have meetings.