Evidence of meeting #57 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was kpmg.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Did you get the translation, Mr. Bilodeau?
Uh, oh.
Alexandre, where are we at here? I believe we are frozen.
4:35 p.m.
The Clerk
Yes, he just disappeared from the chat again.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
June 17th, 2021 / 4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
Is that what you want, Mr. Chair? I thought we were very good friends by now, but....
4:35 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Kelly has succeeded in asking the only question at this entire finance committee.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
He's back.
Did you get the translation, Mr. Bilodeau?
Do you want to ask that again, Pat, please?
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
You're muted, Mr. Bilodeau.
He's frozen again.
I just wonder, Clerk, if you can talk to the technicians on his end and maybe ask if they could just go to voice and see if that would work because—
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Here we go.
Mr. Bilodeau, did you hear Mr. Kelly's question?
He's frozen again.
See if it would work if they go to voice. Sometimes I've had to shut off my video and go to voice and it worked.
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC
If the witness wishes to participate in the meeting with just the sound on, we can simply proceed by telephone. That's one possibility.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
4:35 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
This is Mr. Julian.
In my opinion, the current situation does not meet the request to appear. We're halfway through the meeting, with about 50 minutes left, and so far we've only been able to ask the witness one question. In my opinion, this does not meet the criteria that the committee had set for the appearance of the witness.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
You will not get any disagreement from me, but we have to work with what we have at the moment, Peter. That's the problem we're in.
When technicians are working on it on both sides, I'm not going to suggest that there's anything other than technical problems.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB
May I make a suggestion?
I don't know what the appetite is for.... This witness was summoned as a result of Mr. Ste-Marie's motion. It was his witness. Rather than maybe the futility of repeating over and over again what has not worked so far, unless the Minister of National Revenue does wish to come for two full hours on Tuesday, perhaps we could have the minister for one hour on Tuesday and have this witness back in a better-tested technological solution than we have today.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Is there any disagreement with that proposal? If we can't get anywhere here, we would take Mr. Bilodeau for an hour on Tuesday and see what they can work out in the meantime.
4:35 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
I completely agree, Mr. Chair.
We have 45 minutes left in this meeting. If we get a few extra minutes, that's great, but the committee is clearly indicating he should come and that the subpoena would apply for Tuesday.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB
Since Minister Freeland is not available on Tuesday, maybe she has 45minutes now to give us.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB
Yes, Wayne. Why don't you do that? That's a good idea.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Ed, I listened to question period today, and the answers you got were....
Do you remember how you used to answer?
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Yes, they were the same answers that I got yesterday, and on Tuesday and on Monday: talking points.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Well, look, Ed, when you have a good policy, you can't change your answers.