Government Operations Committee on Oct. 3rd, 2006

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

Oh, that went very quickly.

In wrapping up, I'll just say that this is a big report. We got it only this morning. Personally, I've only had the chance to ask about one subject area, and it would be really helpful, Madam Barrados, if you and your team could come back so that we could ask further questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Thank you.

I'm going to go to Mr. Kramp for one question. We're awfully close to our time.

[Daryl Kramp, Conservative, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

I'll ask a small question, then, on what I would call a rural-urban imbalance.

Presently, right now, let's just take a city such as Kingston. A large number of public service employees work there. If you want a job and you live in a rural area.... A lot of these rural people drive 100 to 200 kilometres a day, one way, to work in various areas. But they need not apply to Public Works because they live outside a geographic catchment area with a 100-kilometre range or a 50-kilometre range. Well, that is right out of touch with reality. These people drive those miles daily to work--that's the nature of a rural economy--yet they need not apply to the federal government because they're just too far outside the catchment area.

Don't you think that is wrong?

[Maria Barrados]

I do, and we've put the policy in place to change this. Our policies have the force of the legislation behind them, so they have the strength of a legislative policy and direction.

I agree with you. We are trying to open it up to everyone by December 2007, as long as we have a system that we can continue to function efficiently with.

[Daryl Kramp, Conservative, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

I really appreciate hearing that we're making some progress on that.

And thank you very much for being forthcoming and objective, as you always are. It's a pleasure to have witnesses who actually just answer questions instead of discriminating.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Thank you, Madam Barrados.

[Maria Barrados]

Thank you, and I'd be happy to be available to the committee at any time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Okay.

Before we conclude the meeting, I'd like to remind everyone that there was a request that we have hearings on the procurement process.

We know that the Bloc Québécois has submitted lists of people they thought we might have from the private sector. So if you have people from the private sector that you would like us to hear from on this subject--as well as the minister--please submit the names. We'll then have a meeting and go through them and try to balance them to have things equal for everyone. Okay?

The next—

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Madam Chair, can I make a statement regarding the previous—

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Just a second.

The next meeting is on Thursday and it's on accrual accounting. The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants will be here at that time.

If you wish to have Madame Barrados return, we can try to have her put on the list where we are. If you'd like that, we'll consider how we can fit her in over the next little while, because she's willing to come back. And you want...yes?

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I want to make a comment regarding the motion that was put forward at the beginning of our meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Yes.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

When we constituted our committee in the fall, we agreed to a notice of motion process of 48 hours—

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Yes, that's true.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

—and it's clear, Madam Chair, that the members of this committee, other than those in the Conservative Party, were aware of this motion coming forward. I think it's only fair that it be noted as well.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Madam Chair, I just want to make a—

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I'm sorry, I don't want to start a whole debate—

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Yes, but I was not made aware of it at all.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I don't want to have a debate on this.

No one was aware of this. It was put on my place this morning—

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Absolutely not.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

All the more reason to reject it then.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

—but you asked for unanimous consent.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

It was on record that all the Conservatives voted against the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

That's quite normal. Unanimous consent was denied, so that's it.

Oui, madame.

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

Pardon me, Madam Chair.

Mr. Albrecht, when someone accuses me... I would like to respond, if you don't mind.

No one was in fact aware of it until I came down the hall at five minutes to the hour, at which point I provided copies to the clerk. So, before you make accusations, I would kindly ask that you check to see whether those allegations are founded.