Evidence of meeting #3 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was herring.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:30 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
I don't see any sense in a deadline for witnesses for salmon on the 13th, when we're not going to get to it until after Easter.
Mr. Calkins.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
Mr. Chair, not to throw a monkey wrench in the plans, but if there is an intention to draft a report at the conclusion of the herring study once the three meetings have concluded with witnesses, then we should be allocating time for the consideration of the draft report. If the matter is urgent and that report needs to be—
I guess what I'm saying is that I need some clarification from the mover of the motion, Mr. Battiste, as to whether he will be satisfied with the hearings. Then the report could come at some time afterwards; or if the consideration of the report and the tabling of the report in the House of Commons is paramount, I think we need to take that into consideration. I don't think we've talked about that.
10:30 a.m.
Liberal
Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
I think that's a good point. I was under the assumption we were scheduling things up until March 31 with the chair's discretion. I would definitely like to see, at some point, a report back. Are we in the process of scheduling that because we're going past April 2? Where would the chair be able to fit that in?
10:30 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
If we leave it as is now, we would use the end of the meeting on April 2 for drafting instructions.
10:30 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Keep in mind that we're not back again until Monday the 20th, because we're away for two weeks in April.
10:30 a.m.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
This was my question, Chair.
If the important matter is to simply hear witnesses and hear from officials on the issue regarding bait, then we're fine. But if the real goal is to have a report tabled in the House as soon as possible, then we need to incorporate that goal into our work plan.
10:30 a.m.
Liberal
Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
I agree with that.
Do we want to leave that to the chair's discretion, or do we want to say this is the date that we would do it?
10:30 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Well, you have to decide the deadline date for the report to be presented or tabled in the House. It's next to impossible to get it in any faster unless we put in an extra meeting.
10:30 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Yes, but we can't confirm a date to present or to table. There are drafting instructions, and then we go on a list. So do we leave it as is?
10:30 a.m.
A voice
Yes.
10:30 a.m.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
I have two things. First, to respond to Mr. Arnold's question, yes, I would see the salmon study being done before we rise in June. If we were to start it the week of the 21st, let's say, we'd have 14 to 16 meetings available.
Second, with respect to the herring report, if we do the final session on herring on the 2nd, could we not provide drafting instructions at the end of that meeting? That would give the analyst two weeks.
10:30 a.m.
A voice
That's what we just discussed.
10:30 a.m.
Liberal