Mr. Alghabra.
Evidence of meeting #1 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
Evidence of meeting #1 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
I also agree with that.
For me to get the biggest value out of talking to Mr. Morgan, I would need to prepare myself. I need to make sure that I would make the best of his time and the committee's time. I would prefer that we defer it until at least Thursday.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
We will attempt to have Mr. Morgan come on Thursday then. It's a pity, because I think we could have got going right away, but if that's the will of the committee, we will do that.
We will have an orientation meeting on Tuesday, if that's the wish of the committee.
Ms. Nash.
NDP
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
It's just a suggestion, but if Mr. Morgan is not available on Thursday, which would delay it to yet another meeting, perhaps what we could look at in that case is your suggestion of splitting the first meeting. If he is available on Thursday, let's do the orientation and let's move on to Mr. Morgan this coming Thursday. Should he not be available, and so that we do not delay to yet another week, maybe we could move him to Tuesday and split the time of the orientation. Perhaps we don't need to know everything about the orientation in the first meeting, and if there's another piece, if it takes two hours, we could defer it until Thursday.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
I agree, but I'm at the mercy of the committee here.
We will have a meeting on the agenda on Monday afternoon, if at all possible. We're going to try to get Mr. Morgan for Thursday. If he cannot attend on Thursday, we'll see about Tuesday. Meanwhile, we'll ask the Library of Parliament and the clerk to prepare an overview so that you're aware of the kinds of powers we have, what we can do, and what we have to do as well, because there are some deadlines—although there's an agreement now that the estimates don't have to be reported until November, which gives us a bit more time. I think having a subcommittee meeting will help. We'll bring that on Tuesday as well.
Mr. Bonin.
Liberal
Raymond Bonin Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
Madam Chair, if Mr. Morgan comes on Tuesday for one hour, will he come back on Thursday for another hour?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
We will decide once he has spent an hour with us, next Tuesday. If time runs out, we will invite him back on Thursday.
Liberal
Raymond Bonin Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
If he comes back on Thursday, he will have spent two hours with us. If I were Mr. Morgan, I would come on Tuesday for one hour.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
I'd like to know, though.... If we can get Mr. Morgan on Tuesday.... We know we have to do this, and I'm sure the government is anxious to confirm his appointment. So this is not rocket science: do you want this man in that position? You question him, and you make a recommendation as a committee. If he can come Tuesday, we'll give him two hours on Tuesday, and we'll do the orientation on Thursday. Otherwise, we'll reverse it: we'll hear him on Thursday, and we'll make sure we have two hours with him, if that's the will of the committee. Sometimes two hours is a long time, sometimes it's a very short time.
Mr. Pacetti.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Ms. Marleau, as chair, you're going to have to use some discretion. Through my experience as chair, I think having someone come in for just an hour is not enough time. He's going to make an opening statement of 10 to15 minutes and you go around once. It's not enough.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
If the scheduling for two hours is not available, you put him on Thursday. You're going to have to use a bit of discretion.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
It's not a difficult process. It's an interview of somebody who has already been in the media. I think we all know who he is. The questioning is not going to be that crazy, because parliamentarians love to ask questions that last seven to eight minutes, so I don't even think he's going to have to answer questions.
In my opinion, we are going around in circles and we are not getting any further ahead.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I just want to assure you there is no partisan intention. I think it's clear that this is a bipartisan concern, that we be prepared when we come in to this.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
So I certainly want to just reinforce that. It certainly isn't a partisan objection; it's simply an objection based on the assurance that we're prepared.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
Okay. But as I said, I'll make the judgment call, depending on when we can get him here. If we get him here Tuesday, we'll have him Tuesday, and then Thursday we'll do the—
Liberal
