Evidence of meeting #12 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was question.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Actually to that point, the meeting started at 11:03. We didn't get under way actually until 11:12, so we had a nine-minute delay. We added 12 minutes here at the end to make up for that, so both sessions had their hour of time.
The clerk advised me that we could add that on today. There are days we can't because time is tight. We couldn't go beyond this time today because time is tight for the people who are doing the services provided for this actual committee meeting.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
I know, as a former chair, that it's nice to be able to have people finish questions, etc., but I think it's also imperative that the people in the queue to ask a question get their chance. We've seen some of the questions go long and that's a good thing to do.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
On an hour we'll never get through all the rounds of people to ask questions. It's impossible in an hour session. To the point that if we save a little time on each question, I keep track of every person who's questioning whether they go over or under on time. I'm not picking on Mr. Perkins for this, but it went one minute and forty-five seconds over on a six-minute allotment of time.
If there's time to ask a question, I like the witnesses to have time to answer it, but we've got to be cognizant of that. It's fine to complain about somebody not getting enough time, but somebody else is chewing up that time. If you add it all up, Mr. Small probably would have time to answer a question, or another member. That was on this one. It wasn't on the last one.
It's not uncommon for people to go over. I have it written down: 27 seconds, 30 seconds, 30 seconds, 18 seconds, 32 seconds, 15 seconds and 25 seconds. You have two or three minutes of time lost to another member because other members went a little bit over or the answer went a little bit over.
If you want me to be sharp or right to the second on the time, I can do that, but you may not get an answer from a witness or you might just get to ask a question.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
I have a final comment then.
We've asked before. This is why we've previously asked to have the minister for two hours. It's so important that she's here to answer questions.
When this one opportunity came about and Mr. Small's chance sort of evaporated, I would ask.... We are the official opposition and deserve the rightful time to ask the minister questions.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
I agree, but what's happening right now is—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
I can't change the clock. I can't slow down the clock.
I know an hour is not much time before committee, whether it's the minister or anyone else, but if we invite someone to committee and they say they can only be there for an hour, then that's up to the committee to say yes or we wait for another time.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
We've invited her for two hours and she's only showed up for one.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
Legitimately, we've asked properly and she's even come back—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
I can go back to a previous time when a minister didn't show up at all, so it's give and take. I can't control the clock.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
I appreciate your efforts, Chair.
I guess when I saw my colleague lose his shot to ask the minister a question.... It was unfortunate. It would be nice that we could see that disparity realized.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
To that point, Mr. Hardie had to give up two minutes in his five-minute slot even before we got a chance to go to Mr. Small.
I want everybody to participate in the committee as its going. Everybody got to.... You can turn on your own timers if you like, but I'll still keep track of the time. It's easy when you're doing it, sitting there asking a question and getting an answer. Five minutes is nothing. It goes by in a blink. Unfortunately, when we have so many members and so many people looking to ask questions, on an hour it's hard to get the full rounds in.
I know what you're saying, but I can't control it. When you look at the time that we do go over.... Very seldom do we go under. Ms. Desbiens was under 10 seconds because she simply doesn't have time to ask a question in 10 seconds, so I didn't let it go on.
I'll be cognizant in the future to try to keep people to their time. Again, we have to respect witnesses as well as we allow them to answer a question.
The meeting is adjourned.