Fisheries Committee on Sept. 26th, 2006

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I move that we wait until the minister can give us at least an hour and a half of his time within the next two or three weeks before we have him before committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Next is Mr. Lunney, on the motion.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

When are we expecting to get into discussion of main estimates?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

We have it in here right now as September 21, after the Remembrance Day break.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

That's November 21.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Yes.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Colleagues, we would end up with an hour now, and then two hours coming up in November. If you delay, who knows? It may be well after the October break, which is only a week away, before we get him back here for two hours.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

We have confirmation, I believe, from Mr. Da Pont. Do we have him confirmed? He is not confirmed.

Belledune--we expect to be able to fit them in next week. We have confirmation from the Cheam Band. We know that we can get a briefing on boat safety, we expect, from DFO simply by asking. Again, we have the members of the department on either Belledune, if we can't fit in earlier, or on the Fraser salmon fishery and the integrated fisheries management plan. I think that was for groundfish, actually.

[Fabian Manning, Conservative, Avalon, NL]

If we go until 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, that would give us an hour and a half.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Monsieur Blais is next.

[Raynald Blais, Bloc, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

As far as this motion is concerned, I would like to say that I consider the presence of the minister to be very important, given that we have several subjects we would like to discuss with him. I am under the impression that the discussion we will have with the minister over two hours will allow us to tackle several subjects other than those concerning the estimates. It is true, when we talk about certain issues, that we always end up talking about money, but I feel that it would be much more appropriate to first of all welcome the minister, so that we can get an overview with him of all the issues, and find out what his opinion and vision of these things are, because we are interested in several subjects.

As far as the estimates are concerned, we have to plan to have two to other hours. I do not think it would be overdoing it to spend four hours with the minister to discuss the estimates and to talk about all of the issues of interest to us.

I therefore support Mr. MacAuley's motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

John, you're not lost for words. I know you're not.

[John Cummins, Conservative, Delta—Richmond East, BC]

On another issue, Mr. Chairman, while we're waiting, I understand that DFO has prepared a report on the general issue with the Cheam. Would the committee be able to get a copy of that report before the Cheam appear? It might be interesting.

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC]

Do you mean on the gravel?

[John Cummins, Conservative, Delta—Richmond East, BC]

I think it's on the general issues relating to the Cheam Band. That's the information we have from someone who saw the first draft and was asked to redo it. I'm just wondering if we would be able to get that report before we ask our questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

I'm not aware of it, but we can certainly ask whether a report has been done. If it's in a finished form, we would request it for committee members prior to the meeting.

[John Cummins, Conservative, Delta—Richmond East, BC]

Well, apparently it's been done. One fellow reviewed the draft, so we can act as though it's done and ask for it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Yes. There's no problem asking for it. At worst they can say no.

We tried to slot the minister in for longer than the hour. That means we don't have anything slotted in for Thursday yet. We will try to put something in for Thursday. But apparently the minister would be available for two hours on October 19.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

That would be good. Let's accept that, quickly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Well, we still have a motion on the floor. Do you want to withdraw the motion?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I'll withdraw the motion and indicate I know how interested the minister would be in being here for two hours.

(Motion withdrawn)

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I imagine he'd like to be here for three hours, knowing how ministers feel.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

As an unbiased chair and recognizing the difficulty of having former ministers even appear at estimates, I was quite impressed that the minister offered to come, so I appreciate the fact that he would spend two hours here.

Does anyone have any recommendations, then, for Thursday? Right now Thursday's open.

[John Cummins, Conservative, Delta—Richmond East, BC]

We'll leave that in your capable hands, Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Well, we will try. We have an agenda; everybody's aware of it. We will try to fill that agenda and have someone come in on Thursday.