Environment Committee on Oct. 2nd, 2024

[Andrew Campbell]

Just wait—

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

I have limited time, Mr. Campbell.

[Andrew Campbell]

If can finish on that, though, on that.

That began the process. Then they had the discussion—

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Okay—

[Andrew Campbell]

I'll just ask you a question back, because the question might be to me—

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

That is not how this works. You do not ask me questions. I ask you questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Wait. I think there is a bit of.... We're not—

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Campbell, the evidence....

Could you table the briefing, the minutes of that meeting—

[Andrew Campbell]

We don't take minutes.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

—and any exchanges on WhatsApp, Signal or any other platform you use to try to clarify the evidence?

[Andrew Campbell]

We don't take minutes.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

The ATIP we got does not back up what you were—

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Order.

We're just going to pause. This is getting a little too argumentative.

Go ahead, Mr. van Koeverden.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

My point of order pertains to hostility, which leads to unsafe working conditions for both translators and officials, as we've seen.

A literal death threat came to a Canadian government official—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Yes.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

They are non-partisan workers, by the way.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Nobody here is on trial. The work of these individuals is to save lives.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I do want to focus on the health of the interpreters.

When there is intense arguing like that, they can't hear and they can't interpret, and it's probably not great for their hearing.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Precisely.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Ms. Collins, do you have a point of order too?

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Yes.

I just want to raise the point that I really don't want to see any badgering of witnesses, but I do think it is important to acknowledge that the time we have to question is our time. Maybe the witnesses could be reminded that when a member is interrupting, it's often because we have a limited amount of time. Perhaps you could just pause and let us jump in to redirect, as it is our time to ask the questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I would agree with you, Ms. Collins, but I also think the witness has to be given an opportunity to answer the question.

At any rate, why don't we try again? I'll restart the clock. I don't know where we were. Was it Mr. Campbell who was answering or Mr. Leslie who was asking?

[Andrew Campbell]

Mr. Leslie can....