Evidence of meeting #61 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was transfer.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
It's up to the committee. As chair, I've been operating under the guidelines of starting with witnesses on Monday. But if it's the committee's will, we could have officials on Monday instead of witnesses.
NDP
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
I don't want to cut into the time of other witnesses. That's why I thought we probably don't need a huge amount more time, but it would be helpful to be able to get through every section here with officials before we get into witnesses.
Conservative
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
I just want to say that given the number of repetitious questions, perhaps the opposition might want to consider limiting the repetition of questions and limiting the questions that are really outside the scope of the BIA. That would gain them some time. This side has been very generous in providing extra time to the opposition. We are happy to stay an extra hour tonight, but many of our members will be leaving to go back to their ridings on late flights. So we have an extra hour tonight if the opposition would like to do that. But failing that, there won't be another opportunity, and tonight, according to the motion that was passed, is the last night to receive officials unless we cut into witnesses' time. So unfortunately, there is a time constraint, but an hour tonight would be available.
Conservative
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
In fact, I suggest that we have another opportunity. That would be on the Monday following the week we spend in our ridings. We come back on Monday the 28th, don't we? That would be the first day with the witnesses.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
We have Monday, May 28, but I've been operating under the motion that instructs the chair to allocate 50 hours prior to clause-by-clause debate.
We've been operating under the suggestion that we have witnesses starting on Monday, May 28. If the committee wishes to change that and move the witnesses.... But in terms of adding hours, I think we'd need a motion to that effect or the consent of the committee.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
I suggest that, in addition to the extra hour this evening, at most three hours be scheduled for Monday morning after we return from the week spent in our ridings.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Again, Mr. Chair, this side has been more than generous and patient with the repetitious questions, with the out-of-scope questions. It doesn't sound like the opposition is willing to concentrate and focus on the BIA to meet the obligations set out in the motion.
This side is willing to stay an extra hour, but that would be with the understanding that there would be no motions introduced, so that those members who can't stay, who do have flights, can leave. There would be no motions introduced, and we will not be agreeing to any more time than what has been suggested—the extra hour this evening—and then we will proceed as planned with the motion.
We've given most of our time to the opposition as it is, and we'll continue to be generous, but they have to do their part as well.
NDP
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
On the point of doing our part, if I recall correctly a couple of members from the other side were talking about their personal experiences. I won't go into details, but to be fair I don't think it's only the opposition that has been talking about fishing and personal stuff.
We have a budget implementation act that is fairly large, and you mentioned that there are a lot of things that are not directly related to finance. It has to be both ways. I don't agree with your position that it's only the opposition who is asking repetitious questions and things that are not relevant.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Thank you, Chair.
Mr. Chair, I've been silent all through these meetings on purpose, and that was to allow the opposition time to go through it. But I also want to let the opposition know that I did my due diligence beforehand. I thought about where I thought there would be areas of interest or questions.
I was paying close attention to my colleagues who were asking questions to ensure that if I didn't get one of my questions answered, or didn't have question addressed already by Mr. Jean or Ms. Glover or my other colleagues, I would address it. I have to say that I've been very happy with what I've seen as far as the questions that have come from this side are concerned.
I'd also like to remind members that this is not a hard read. This isn't a very complicated budget; it's fairly simple.
If you want to prioritize which officials should come forward before the end of the meeting, maybe you could give that list to the chair and the chair might be willing to prioritize those witnesses so you'd at least get the witnesses you want, instead of making all these officials sit here for the rest of the night.
You've got some options here. As I said, we've been very cordial and very understanding, but I expect you to do your own work.
I will back Ms. Glover who made the comment about repetition. We've seen repetition after repetition from that side of the committee. I don't buy this argument that you don't have enough time to do this or you don't have enough time to do that. You've had all the time in world to do your work; just be efficient in how you go about doing it, please.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you.
I have Mr. Brison and Mr. Marston and then Mr. Jean.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Chair, just one division of this legislation reflected what was an independent piece of legislation in the last Parliament, Bill S-13. It was debated at the Senate, but it did not have any scrutiny by members of Parliament at committee prior to today. We devoted about 25 minutes with officials to the entire study of Bill S-13 at the parliamentary committee level. So that is hardly a matter of the opposition parties using excessive time or utilizing dilatory procedures. There has been scant parliamentary oversight and consideration of the legislation.
Frankly, I would challenge Ms. Glover or anybody over there to go through the questions that I've asked and find any evidence of repetition. You'll find questions about public policy. You'll find questions about the people we are elected to represent and to try to build good policy on behalf of them. You'll find questions based on significant research by our staff. So we have devoted the time and prepared for this. I would hope that all members of Parliament have done this and take it seriously.
But Ms. Glover's kindergarten school teacher routine and condescension toward opposition members, that “We [on the government side] have been so good to you, and if you could just behave, everything would go along much more nicely”—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Mr. Brison, there is a point of order. As you know, the chair has to recognize a point of order.
Mr. Hoback.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, if he has something to add to the debate or something of value to talk about, we would all be very interested in listening to it, but obviously he does not. He'd rather take the committee down a road that I don't think you want to go down. So please, let's get back to dealing with what the business is, and that's listening to witnesses.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
That's technically a point of debate.
I'd like to get to the witnesses. I'm just saying as your chair that the quicker we get to the witnesses the more time we will have with witnesses and officials. We can carry on this debate all night.
I have Mr. Brison to finish, then Mr. Marston, Mr. Jean, and now Ms. Nash.
I'll just say to members that the time we do this is time we take away from questioning witnesses, which, in my understanding, all of us want to do—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
I'm just finishing my point, and then I'll go to Mr. Brison to finish his point, and then Mr. Marston.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
I say this respectfully, Ms. Glover. When you speak to us like children or people who have been pulled over for speeding and you tell us that somehow if only we could follow the rules, I would point out that we are following the rules. If you look at the questions I've asked, I think you will see very little repetition. You will see in fact public policy questions. They may be complicated, Shelly, but that doesn't mean they're repetitious.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
I would ask you, Mr. Brison, to make your comments through the chair. And let's endeavour to be respectful at all times.
Liberal
