Information & Ethics Committee on May 25th, 2010

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Would somebody...?

It's your motion. You are moving the motion. Okay, we'll put it, but ultimately--and the members understand--if the determination is that the government's announcement supersedes the situation, then we have to cancel a lot of witnesses.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

I have a friendly amendment that I think would put the matter to rest, which is that we just replace the name of the political staffer in question with the name of the Minister of Public Works.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

That will be de facto if the ruling of the Speaker is that the minister will speak on behalf of the staff.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

I didn't know that there was a ruling....

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

I think a ruling has been requested.

In any event, we understand it is whatever is right and proper and permitted. It's either going to be this person or the minister, depending on how this unfolds as a result of the conversation of the parties. We understand that, because that means Mr. Togneri as well as Mr. Soudas would be released.

We'll be consistent. We understand.

Is that okay with regard to the witness? Are we okay?

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Chair, I'm still moving the motion on Jillian Andrews.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

I understand. We are moving the motion with the understanding that it could be a minister.

Are we okay? Agreed.

(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

With regard to the issuing of summonses, I've run into this before. It gets very difficult, particularly since you have only a handful of meetings left, and people want to have witnesses pretty quickly. My preference has always been to make invitations, but if there is a refusal of the invitation without proper reason, a summons would be issued.

What I am going to suggest is that someone move that the chair be authorized to issue a summons for any approved witness on the list if it is necessary. That way I don't have to keep coming back to the committee.

Is that agreed?

[A voice]

Who is moving it?

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Mr. Siksay.

For any approved witnesses of the committee--

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

The motion should apply to all witnesses, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

If it is necessary, in the chair's opinion--

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

No.

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

All right. Fine.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

--to get them before committee for our timeframe.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Chair, one small change would be that you would come back to the committee to indicate there had been a refusal before you would immediately issue a summons. Committees generally don't give chairs carte blanche to--

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

No, just for those who have already been previously approved, but if we--

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

No, again, summonses are separate creatures from invitations, and we don't give carte blanche to a chair to issue a summons on any witness who has been invited. Committees vote on--

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

That is what's being requested, because when there are only six or seven meetings left for the committee, you may not be able to arrange your committee meetings quickly enough. It is just a matter of trying to get the work done.

Mr. Hoback.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Mr. Chair, could I suggest that maybe you get together with your staff and put together a list and the timetable for the meetings and the witnesses you want to bring forward, and then bring them--

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

No, they are already approved. We have a list. It's all there.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

I'm asking that you create the schedule. Bring the schedule back to the committee and then the committee will decide as a whole what to do with that schedule.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

We have already approved the witnesses, and the clerk has scheduled the witnesses. It's already done.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

What are you asking for, then?

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Well, this would relate, I can only assume, if any witness refuses to appear without cause, to the chair's being authorized to issue a summons, if necessary.