Fisheries Committee on Nov. 14th, 2007

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

—when we have the subcommittee meeting, or whatever we're going to do to decide who we're taking in to listen to.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Would this be a plan—I'm just trying to move for today—that the subcommittee get together tomorrow, have a discussion on this, report back here on Monday, and advise the clerk who we would like to begin as witnesses, and if anybody has a name, feel free to pass it on?

We could try to come up with a plan for our Wednesday meeting of next week, and if it's possible to get a witness here next Wednesday, we would. If it's not, we would come up with a plan for our meeting to address one of the other issues we laid out and then have our witnesses come in the following week.

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

Would this be tomorrow morning?

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Mr. Matthews? It's three of us—

[An hon. member]

Are you okay with a meeting of the subcommittee tomorrow morning?

[Bill Matthews, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

That's fine with me. Just tell me when.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Is it okay with you, Mr. Blais?

And Mr. Stoffer, is it okay with you?

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

It depends what time. We have scheduled meetings already at 9:30 with DFO and at 11 o'clock with our veterans committee. But one of the things I'm asking for, sir, for Wednesday, if it's possible, is to send Mr. Blais' request to have the new deputy minister appear before the committee to ask her questions about what the government needs from us regarding coast guard concerns.

It's also a good way for us to—

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Do you mean small craft harbour concerns?

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Yes.

Then, it's also a chance for her to get to meet us and for us to get to meet her—to pay a courtesy call. I think she'd appreciate it, and we would appreciate, as well, seeing how she's finding it and what she needs from us, in terms of coast guard...I mean, small craft harbour recommendations, to go forward.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

You're hooked on the coast guard—

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

—but she's on the hook for the wharves in Nova Scotia, so don't worry.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

It's a big craft harbour down there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Okay, this could be a possibility. We can discuss it at the subcommittee tomorrow, and then....

What?

[Bill Matthews, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

Lunch time in your office.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

It will be at lunch time at my office.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Done; that's fair enough.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Oh, we're not allowed to have a meeting in my office. There's no translation.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Who said so?

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

The clerk just—

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Well, if you get unanimous consent from us, we can change that, can't we?

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Is it okay, Mr. Blais?

I think Mr. Blais—

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

I need interpretation.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

If we have unanimous consent, Mr. Blais, why not meet in his office? I don't have a problem. Do you?