Evidence of meeting #10 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
William Amos Liberal Pontiac, QC
No, that's not the intention. The intention is to ensure that what we are doing is understood to be what was referred to us by the House.
Liberal
William Amos Liberal Pontiac, QC
There's an understanding that what we initiated initially, and what we started even prior to the reference from the House, is in fact what the House asked us to do. There's no implication on the timing side.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
If there's no further discussion, can we move to vote?
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
We're moving on to the budget. You have the budget in front of you. There are two budgets. This helps us pay the bills and make sure that we cover the work we're doing in the committee.
Is there anybody that has any issues with the budgets that are being brought forward?
Mr. Cullen.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Cynara Corbin
It's slightly less. It's about $300 and something. I know that one budget says $500, but it's a general amount. Whatever we don't spend, we do get back.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Okay, I'm looking at it, and no way that's $500, but maybe....
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
I run a caucus breakfast and I am shocked by the amount of money that we have to spend to have some food in front of us when we do caucus. It's expensive here.
Conservative
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
I'll move the two budgets.
Do we need to move these separately, Chair, or as one?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
I think we can move the two budgets unless there's some reason to separate them. I think we can just move them.
Is everyone in favour?
Mr. Fast.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Just to remind you that, as much as possible, we want to use video conferencing when we have witnesses from abroad. I think it works quite well to have video conference.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
I completely agree, and this has worked out well over the last week.
Do we have any issue with that?
Mr. Amos, do you have something?
Liberal
William Amos Liberal Pontiac, QC
I was going to say that even within the country that would be preferable.
I would love to have seen David Boyd in person. He's someone I know, and I think it could have been great to sit down with him, but the carbon footprint is huge and the taxpayers are responsible.
To the extent that we can encourage our guests to use the video conference, I think that's an appropriate approach.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
I'm completely supportive of that, and I think so is our staff. We will do that going forward.
I think the intent is to always try...we thought having the person in front is easier, but this is working out really well. We weren't sure how well the technology was going to work, and you don't want to miss a chance. This is working out well though, and we'll go that route.
Thank you.
Mr. Eglinski.
Conservative
Jim Eglinski Conservative Yellowhead, AB
We have a London, U.K., on here for $4,800. Is that what it costs us to bring her out here?
The Clerk
All these figures are estimates at this point. I don't have the invoices. The logistics officer who prepares this in our office used a rough approximation, including flights. There are definitely guidelines from the House of Commons that say they are to travel economy at the lowest possible cost that is most practical.
Conservative
Jim Eglinski Conservative Yellowhead, AB
Was this for the witness we had at the last meeting? She was visiting with several different departments. Are we footing the bill for the other departments?
The Clerk
I'm not aware. Sometimes when witnesses do come and they have other business, then we would share the cost of it. I wasn't informed of that, but certainly if a witness extends a trip because they have other meetings, we don't pay for additional hotel nights beyond the committee activity business.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
She came to give witness to us, and if she's tacked on some other things then I understand she might have tried to take advantage of being here, but you know what—
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
She absolutely could have, and we will make sure going forward that we do that. We were trying to follow a trend of what was done in the past, but I think this is working out very well.
Thank you.
One last comment and then we need to move on.