Evidence of meeting #4 for Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was environmental.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins
We can dispute the facts. We have a work plan that we've been working quite well under. We've been calling witnesses. We've been having excellent rounds of testimony. We have a valid motion before the floor, Mr. Chisholm, and I suggest we get on with it.
I don't know if anybody else needs to speak to it.
Ms. Rempel.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Centre-North, AB
Section (v) of the motion that created this subcommittee from Finance reads:
(v) the subcommittee finish its examination no later than 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 4, 2012, and report its findings to the Standing Committee on Finance at the next available opportunity, provided that if the subcommittee has not reported by that time, it shall be deemed to have reported a recommendation that the clauses contained in Part 3 of Bill C-38 be carried.
I just want to put it out there to my colleagues opposite because the opportunity to have dissenting reports has been brought up. So I think it's my duty, having this knowledge, to bring this up. We need to have enough time, and enough time was scheduled in the original motion in order to get that review done, to be courteous to the analyst and to get translation done.
I think the best course of action here, in order to ensure all information is presented, is to stick with the work plan that's already been scheduled, because I think my colleagues opposite would not, through procedure, be happy with that scenario.
Conservative
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have just one point. I understand the timelines. I think we all do. We also, as parliamentarians, have a role of oversight. We've heard very clearly where there are gaps that people can't answer. We've heard very clear recommendations, and I think it's incumbent upon us to follow up with the ministers. They need to provide answers. Some of the things we've been asking for four weeks we still have no answers on. So I really think this is an important issue.
As I said, you can have the ministers and then do several hours after that on the report. It's been done before.
NDP
Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Mr. Chairman, let me respond to the threat from Ms. Rempel. In response to this motion she suggested that we may end up passing the timeline that has been set by the government, and this will end up being passed without any amendment. If that's not a threat, I don't know what is.
I understand the timeline that has been set, and I don't agree with it one iota. That's been made really clear. All I'm trying to do, within the time that has already been set, is respond to expert evidence we've been provided to hear from the ministers, at the very least. They've offered publicly. If invited by the committee, they will come.
We have a chunk of two hours tomorrow night when we can entertain the ministers. I'll be awfully surprised if they're not in town, because we have a very busy legislative agenda right now. Let's call them in. This is important. You want to get it done and they want to get it done, so let's do what it takes to get it done. We'll do it tomorrow night and the analysts will have the weekend—basically the same time that was allocated by the government—to get this ready for the end of Monday. We'll be done. Heaven forbid we'll even go a little further in our due diligence.
Conservative
NDP
Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
I'd like a recorded vote please, Mr. Chairman.
(Motion negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins
Colleagues, we're now 40 minutes into this discussion and we're right back where we started. That motion has been defeated.
This was supposed to give drafting instructions to the clerk. It has now become a discussion about scheduling committee business. I would appreciate it if members could get back to the original intent of the question. The motion that moved us out of our regular meeting was to discuss drafting instructions.
Ms. Rempel is next, followed by Mr. Anderson.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Centre-North, AB
Given that we have agreed through this motion to carry on with the timeline put forward, I move to adjourn.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins
I have a motion to adjourn. It's not debatable.
(Motion agreed to on division)
The meeting is adjourned.