Finance Committee on May 1st, 2019

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

That court decision said that—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Okay, I've heard all of this before, Minister.

I apologize for interrupting you, but you keep repeating this whole thing about waiting for a decision about this and that. What people want to know—the thousands of Albertans who are out of work and are waiting for a chance to have an opportunity for their future—is whether your government is going to give them a decision before the next election. Is it yes or no? I don't want to hear all the rhetoric and all the rest. I just want to hear this. Will there be a decision before the next election, yes or no?

Can you commit to that today or not?

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Mr. Richards, there's rhetoric and repetition on both sides.

The minister is going to have the opportunity to answer the question however he wants to answer it in the same time frame as you can ask the question.

Mr. Minister.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

It should be a yes or a no, Mr. Chair.

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

For absolute clarity, we are in the process of engaging and doing that with indigenous peoples.

We have stated publicly, and I'm happy to state here, that we believe that process will conclude—we've committed that it will conclude—with a cabinet discussion and a hopeful decision on June 18. That is the time when I would be happy to be talking publicly about next steps, if any.

We recognize that doing this in the right way is the only way to get projects like this done.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

You're saying that on June 18, you're going to have this process wrapped up. That gives lots of time before an election.

Will there be a decision before the election, yes or no? It's a simple answer.

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

I'm happy to repeat what I just said.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Yes, but that's not the question I'm asking you, Mr. Minister. I'm asking you if your government is going to make a decision before the next election.

You can imagine why a lot of people are suspicious here. Is it a yes or is it a no? Will there be a decision or not?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

I don't think there's any need for any concerns around suspicion. We've been responding to—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Are you kidding me?

We're asking you a simple yes or no question—will there be a decision or not—and you refuse to answer it. People deserve to know. There are thousands of Albertans out of work and they deserve to know the answer. Is it yes or is it no?

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Minister, you have the floor.

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

We'll continue with an approach that we believe will get us to the position where we can take a decision on June 18. That is—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

There are thousands of Albertans who are out of work and are hurting right now, and they deserve an answer. I really hope you're going to give one, Minister.

Is it yes or no? Will we have a decision before the next election, yes or no? That will give you lots of time. I don't want any more of the rhetoric. I just want a yes or a no. Will they have a decision or not?

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order. Obviously the honourable member across the way is not allowing the minister an opportunity to respond to the question.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

He's not responding. Yes or no is what we're asking for here.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

In almost any other forum, it would be considered quite rude.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Mr. Minister, you have the floor.

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Maybe for context, we see the importance of the Trans Mountain pipeline and the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to the oil and gas sector in our country. It's the reason we moved forward on purchasing that pipeline and that opportunity to expand the pipeline.

We obviously are seeking to—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Then why can't you just tell us when there will be a decision?

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Mr. Richards, allow the minister the time to—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

If it's so important, you should be able to tell us the answer. Is it yes or no? Will there be a decision?

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Let's be civil and allow the minister to answer the question in his time.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

He's just trying to kill time and not answer the question. That's the problem, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

From my perspective, I would say that he added new information in that last answer.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

If he says it's important, then he should be able to give us the decision. Is it yes or no?