Information & Ethics Committee on Oct. 26th, 2010

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Chair, I think we already have a motion on the floor. I really can't understand.... We previously debated the motion that's on the floor. It was translated. Mr. Wright's letter--we're going by what you read out to us. We thought seriously about what we required from Mr. Wright, and that was in the motion I tabled early last week.

If the government members agree, it basically says the same thing. I can't see what is wrong with the motion we put forward. I don't know why they're so intransigent and want to go to what Mr. Wright said in his letter.

I know what this says. I do not know what Mr. Wright specifically said in his letter.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

Let us vote on Mr. Easter's amendment, which he's entitled to have a vote on.

His wording is:

provide it with copies of any agreements with Onex Corporation for him to return from temporary leave to the Corporation.

Then it says:

provide copies of any recusal conditions that he has agreed to abide by as Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister to ensure that he is not in conflict of interest.

That is all within five days.

Let's vote on the amendment.

There is a tie vote. I don't see an awful lot of difference, colleagues. We're splitting hairs, so I will vote in favour of the amendment.

(Amendment agreed to)

I don't believe there's anything further to come before the meeting.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

We haven't voted on the amendment, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

You're right, Mr. Albrecht. Sorry.

We will vote on the minutes of the steering committee, as amended.

(Motion as amended agreed to)

The minutes are approved. I think that's everything we have to do.

Mr. Albrecht has the floor.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I think it's important that we did say November 2 or November 4. Mr. Wright clearly indicated November 2. We know he's available on November 2. We don't know if he's available on November 4. If we go for November 4 and he's not available, we'll miss our opportunity.

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

I think we agreed to that.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Okay. I didn't know that we'd agreed to November 2.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

It's November 2 or November 4. We'll try to set him up.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I just wanted to be sure.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

That's fine, as long as we have the documents, which we should have beforehand.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shawn Murphy]

Yes, we should have them within five days.

The meeting is adjourned.