Fisheries Committee on Feb. 16th, 2016

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

So that you know, this is a type of routine motion that is adopted quite routinely by lots of committees. It doesn't oblige it to happen. It obligates the chair to, I guess, take reasonable efforts that it be televised.

Whenever a minister appears before a committee, it's an important time. It's probably one of the more important meetings of a committee when a minister appears. Generally the minister wants it to be televised. It's not anything that they're not interested in. What this does is recognize the fact that it's an important meeting, and it's an expression by the committee that we take whatever steps we can to ensure that it is televised, recognizing that it's not mandatory.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Mr. Arnold.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

As a new member I question whether this would deter the minister from appearing as often. Since it is more public, we may not be as open with our questions, but that's just a question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Mr. Strahl.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

I think the chair has several options now. I think most rooms now have some capability or we can get to Centre Block where they have the cameras. I think it's a request that the chair pick a room that has that capability, not that it's going to compel CBC or CTV to cover this but that the equipment is in the room. I think it's a room allocation request and the notice indicates that it's televised. I'd be supportive of that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Mr. Davies.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thanks.

I'll briefly say in answer to Mel's question that whenever the minister appears there's a lot of media attention. The room will be full of media. It's public anyway, so it doesn't discourage him one way or the other.

I think it's part of an accountable transparent government that when a minister appears it recognizes that meeting is of broad interest to the public. If it can't be done sometimes, if there's not a room available, then so be it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Mr. Morrissey.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Does that mean we get a room closer to the House of Commons and don't have to walk...?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

I believe I can answer that one, and yes.

Just for the sake of clarification, I know in past experiences on my other committees, as well as this one, when a minister comes in, usually at the end of it, that it's televised or what have you.

We're debating this motion here right now, and that being said, this particular room would not be able to cover it. I think somebody asked that question earlier.

The question is on the motion put forward by Mr. Davies—

[Bernadette Jordan, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Sorry, could you just read it one more time?

Thank you.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

I move that whenever the minister appears before the committee, every effort be made to ensure that the meeting is televised.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Is there any more discussion? We're ready for a vote.

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Strahl.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I know it will require consent, but given Mr. Davies' motion, I would like to ask.... I don't know who to ask on that side because Mr. Cormier is not here, according to the rules. He's here as an MP, but he is not running the show over there supposedly. I can see it, a house divided against itself and all the rest of it.

We would like the minister to appear to talk about his mandate letter and to discuss his priorities for the department in this new government. I recognize there hasn't been 48 hours' notice, but I'm wondering if we could agree that he would be the first witness this committee would hear and that we would talk about his mandate letter and the direction of the department.

I would like to have that friendly suggestion. I heard the minister in the Senate. He's obviously prepared for this, and we would welcome the opportunity to hear from him at the earliest opportunity.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Before any further discussion on that one, because you asked about the 48 hours, it's okay. You can move that, seeking a majority vote. However, as a reminder, I had hoped we would be doing committee business on Thursday, unless you want to deal with that right now. I'm assuming you do.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

I'm just laying down a marker that this is something we would like to see as soon as possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Okay.

If I read this correctly, what you're proposing is that the minister appear before the committee to discuss his mandate letter. Do you propose a particular date?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

As soon as possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Is there any discussion on what has been proposed?

Mr. Hardie.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

It might be worthwhile for the committee of the whole or otherwise, the subcommittee, to meet and talk about the direction in which we want the committee to go. That may help to inform the kind of discussion we want to have with the minister when the minister does appear in front of the committee. Just a thought in the sequencing of things, I suggest that we take care of some housekeeping first and then go forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Mr. Sopuck.

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

I think that regardless of what our path might be, having the minister come to the committee would be the very first option no matter what we've discussed. I do agree that we want to discuss the potential studies and witnesses we want to bring before us. But no matter what we decide upon, the minister will probably be the first witness that we ask.

I'll leave it at that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Is there any further discussion before we have a vote on his motion?

Mr. Morrissey.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

The minister will be appearing before this committee and can speak to any issue. This motion identifies one specific issue for him to speak to at that particular time. I'd prefer that be dealt with when the minister does appear because as you point out, he is going to appear before the committee. To have a motion bringing him in to speak to one particular issue, which is his mandate letter, I don't think is necessary at this stage.