Evidence of meeting #4 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was park.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:25 a.m.
Liberal
Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON
We could do 45 minutes, 45 minutes and 30 minutes then, right?
10:25 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
—because Mr. Redekopp's motion is very timely, and those guys are coming onto the Hill.
The fourth one is as follows:
That pursuant to Standing Order 81(5), the committee invite the Minister and departmental officials to study the Supplementary Estimates (B); and that if they have been referred to the committee, the Main Estimates for March 12.
Go ahead, Madam Findlay.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC
Madam Chair, I have a comment. I think it would be more appropriate to invite the minister—as we wish to do, on the 12th—and his officials to take that time to discuss the supplementary estimates (B). They're time sensitive and have to be done by a certain date.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC
We could invite him back later for main estimates. We have a much longer time frame for that. That day, I would think, we could certainly take up the time of the committee, perhaps an hour with the minister and an hour with his officials, on supplementary estimates (B). I think it would be more appropriate, and I think more the norm, to invite him back at a later date for the main estimates.
10:25 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
If the main estimates have been submitted to the House by then, it will be a good utilization of the time. The ministers sometimes are not available, and I don't want them not to be here to defend the main estimates.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC
I would like to give him the opportunity to discuss the main estimates.
10:25 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
There is a proposal by Ms. Findlay. Is there any discussion?
Go ahead, Mr. Longfield.
10:25 a.m.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
I wouldn't want to exclude the main estimates if they're available and if they've been given to us. I have questions going into the budget cycle. We will hopefully be seeing a budget sometime in the next few weeks after that, so I think it might give us some good context for the budget. I'm thinking of the next steps after that. Maybe two steps down the road is looking at how the main estimates and the budget work together.
I wouldn't want to exclude the main estimates from our discussion.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
My concern is that if we include the main estimates, that's a lot to cover, and it's going to get very watered down. I agree with the idea that we just focus on the supplementary estimates (B) and then invite the Minister back once we have the main estimates to talk about.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
I echo Brad, especially as new MPs, and there are a lot of new MPs. The supplementary estimates will be enough. As we go through the process, we have lots of time. As Kerry-Lynne has suggested, we have lots of time to review the main estimates. Let's go one step at a time.
10:30 a.m.
Liberal
Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
I would have to disagree. I think if we have an opportunity to discuss the main estimates, this is an opportunity for the committee to be able to dive into them. I think it's up to us to be prepared for that and to ensure that we're using our time, as well as the Minister's time, to its fullest.
Iif the main estimates are available, I think we should ensure we discuss them and make sure the Minister has a chance to do so.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
I'm a little concerned about having enough time to delve into all of it. I'm not concerned about being prepared. I might be okay with doing it the way you'd like to do it if we knew for certain that we could have another meeting on the main estimates if there were more questions we wanted to ask.
I've never done this before, but I'm certainly not used to people suggesting that we not have enough time to dig into it as deeply as we would like. That's all I'm concerned about.
10:30 a.m.
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
I want to echo those concerns. I think if we're allotting time, we want to make sure there's enough time for all the questions to be answered. These meetings go very quickly, and we seem to be only skimming the surface a lot of the time.
I would be in favour of ensuring that we have two potential meetings scheduled so that we have enough time to dig into the material.
10:30 a.m.
Liberal
Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
One option we could look at would be that the Minister would discuss everything in the meetings, particularly if the main estimates are available. We have an opportunity to do that.
Then if there are follow-up questions, we could invite the officials back to be able to respond to those questions. This will ensure that we have a chance to discuss main estimates with the Minister, which is very important, but also if we have any follow-up questions, we can get that information from the officials.
I think the balance here is trying to ensure we have an opportunity to get the information we need but also ensuring that the Minister's time is being maximized as well.
10:30 a.m.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Sorry, but I'm not sure I understood what Mr. Schiefke said. Why wouldn't we leave it open if we have time? Frankly, I don't know how long we'll need to study the supplementary estimates or the main estimates. This will be my first go at it, but I do know that, when it comes to money, people usually have a lot of detailed questions.
The matter was referred to the committee. Has any time been set aside to examine the main estimates? Is it something we can do? Given my inexperience when it comes to the estimates, I'm counting on you.