Evidence of meeting #15 for Finance in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was part.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Senior Counsel, Legal Services, Department of Natural Resources
I'm sorry, I missed the question--if it was being directed at me.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Massimo Pacetti
Anyone can answer it. Who's best qualified to answer it?
If you'd like, you can each take a crack at it.
5:25 p.m.
Senior Counsel, Legal Services, Department of Natural Resources
Mr. Chair, I apologize for that.
5:25 p.m.
Senior Counsel, Legal Services, Department of Natural Resources
The bill does provide that its provisions can be brought into force by the Governor in Council so it won't necessarily all be enforced at once.
But to answer the question about whether it could be used with respect to the whole of AECL, I think that's correct, it can be; so it's not....
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Daniel Paillé Bloc Hochelaga, QC
You can't disclose who is on the list of potential purchasers, or where they come from, or how they're connected with these issues, etc., and I understand that very well since I have had that experience in the past. But am I to understand that it is all corporations that are on the list of potential purchasers?
5:25 p.m.
Policy Director, AECL Review - CANDU, Department of Natural Resources
That is one of the things that are protected by the rules. We can't share that kind of information.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Daniel Paillé Bloc Hochelaga, QC
I don't want to know the names. I just want to know whether they are all corporations.
5:25 p.m.
Policy Director, AECL Review - CANDU, Department of Natural Resources
They are corporations, yes.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Daniel Paillé Bloc Hochelaga, QC
If they are corporations, that means they are not other governments. To get to my real question, is it possible that a foreign government might buy the business? Are there foreign government enterprises that are on the list to buy these assets at present?
5:25 p.m.
Policy Director, AECL Review - CANDU, Department of Natural Resources
You will understand that this is information that is protected by confidentiality agreements, and that we cannot disclose it. However, corporations were approached. That I can tell you, but I cannot go further than that.
5:25 p.m.
Policy Director, AECL Review - CANDU, Department of Natural Resources
Hypothetically, yes.
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A voice
Could I have a moment?
5:25 p.m.
A voice
No, I'll do it later.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
I know, but I thought you were giving him an extra minute.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Okay. Thank you.
I just have one quick question. I'm interested in the comparison of the sale of CN with the sale of AECL. My recollection is that in the case of CN, the purchaser wasn't given the certainty of cabinet having full control. But there was a bill that had to pass through the House, and it did.
Why is the process that was followed with CN...why does AECL have to follow this process for purposes of certainty on the part of the buyer, whereas the CN case did not, and indeed went through the House?
5:25 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, AECL Restructuring, Department of Natural Resources
The government determined that the best tool to be able to provide the authorities and the flexibilities to be able to go forward swiftly with the transaction process towards the divesture was using Bill C-9.