Government Operations Committee on Sept. 26th, 2006

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Bibiane Ouellette]

Honourable members,

I see a quorum.

I am ready to receive motions for the position of chair.

Mr. Bonin.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I nominate Ms. Diane Marleau.

[The Clerk]

Are there any other nominations?

It has been moved by Mr. Bonin that Madame Marleau be elected as chair of the committee.

(Motion agreed to)

[Bibiane Ouellette]

I declare Ms. Marleau elected chair of this committee.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I hate those hard elections.

[The Clerk]

We will now proceed to the election of the two vice-chairs. The first vice-chair is to be a member of the governing party.

Are there any nominations to that effect?

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

I nominate Daryl Kramp from the Conservatives.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Mr. Wallace that Mr. Daryl Kramp be elected as vice-chair.

Are there any other motions?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare Mr. Kramp elected as vice-chair of the committee.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Clerk]

We can now move to the election of the second vice-chair.

[Louise Thibault, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

I nominate Ms. Nash, from the NDP, as second vice-chair.

[The Clerk]

Ms. Thibault nominates Ms. Nash as second vice-chair of the committee.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Clerk]

I declare Ms. Nash elected vice-chair of the committee.

I would now invite Ms. Marleau to take the chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Before we adjourn in a few minutes, I'm wondering if there are any amendments to the agenda. We had looked at it and it was more or less agreed to. Otherwise, we'll vote.

Mr. Bonin.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Madam Chair, if we receive unanimous consent, we could just flow into the next meeting.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

I'll move the agenda.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

You'll move the agenda?

(Motion agreed to)

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Madam Chair, I would like us to take one session to discuss the goods and services procurement process which was established this summer by the Department of Public Works and Government Services and dismantled shortly thereafter. This process was far more expensive than anticipated. So, I would like to be able to discuss the matter.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I do believe it would be possible to do so. We will add that subject to the list.

Ms. Nash.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Yes. On the issue of inviting Minister Fortier, I know he has been speaking publicly about procurement. It would be helpful to speak with him further about that.

Also, there was some media coverage this past summer about a couple of representatives who were overseas and how effective their trip was. It would be helpful to ask the minister about those media reports.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Okay.

Mr. Moore.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

The minister is more than prepared to come to committee. The House sits of course this week and next week, and then there's Thanksgiving. If there is any inconvenience to witnesses, that would be unfortunate. But if there's a gap, maybe in the week we come back after Thanksgiving, the minister is asking to let the committee know that he's more than willing to come and talk about any of the issues.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

We'll get the clerk to start talking with the office of the minister to see when it would be possible, and we'll see where it fits best on the calendar. We're interested in our study, and we want that to go ahead, but there is also time to do other things.

Are there any other points?

Do we have to terminate?

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

We'll adjourn.