Evidence of meeting #56 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 classification.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Bibiane Ouellette  Clerk of the Committee , Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates
Susan Louis-Seize  Association of Compensation Advisors
John Gordon  National President, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Diane Melançon  Association of Compensation Advisors
Michael Brandimore  Association of Compensation Advisors
David Orfald  Director of Planning and Organizational Development, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Margaret Jaekl  Classification Officer, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Rob Walsh  Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, House of Commons

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau

It's not a new issue; she did give proper notice.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Raymond Bonin Liberal Nickel Belt, ON

I'll repeat what I said. I'm not talking about when it was said or the notice of motion.

You must already have a list of subjects you want to study. I think we should put that on the list and later on, as a committee, we decide when we're going to do it.

When I was chair of committee, we had 40 things on the list, and then the committee decided what's first. You don't need a motion for that.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau

Ms. Nash.

5:40 p.m.

NDP

Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON

Madam Chair, I had raised this some time back as one of the items we would look at studying. The decision at the time was that we would first bring in Public Works and trade representatives, and then we would bring in other representatives on this issue. So this is in fact a continuation of a topic for which we have already had witnesses.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau

Yes, it is.

Does anybody want to debate this motion, or would you like to vote on it?

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Raymond Simard Liberal Saint Boniface, MB

I'd like to vote on the amendment.

I don't mind the topic at all, I just don't want us to spend ten meetings on it. I think we should probably limit it to two--at maximum, two. If we can do it in one, good, but maximum, two.

5:40 p.m.

An hon. member

Would you please read the motion out loud?

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau

The motion is that the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates immediately continue its study on trade agreements and federal government procurement, to better understand the limitations and possibilities for leveraging federal procurement to create made-in-Canada jobs, with a view to making recommendations to the House of Commons; and that the appropriate officials from the Canadian business community, Canadian Labour Congress, as well as trade and procurement experts from think tanks like the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives be invited to share their thoughts and recommendations.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

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

I agree with Ray on this. I think it's an entirely legitimate topic to be raising here—fine—but as Ray said, a number of committee members have suggested different subjects to the subcommittee on priorities and planning. Just because Peggy brings in a motion—on a legitimate topic—and has a vote, trumping what other members have been pushing for—

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau

We've already had one meeting on this. Perhaps we can have another meeting.

Yes, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON

Just for clarification, Madam Chair, what exactly is meant by the word “immediately”? I think we need clarification on that, or else a different phraseology there.

5:40 p.m.

NDP

Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON

Madam Chair, I'm fine with taking out the word “immediately”. We've already had one meeting on this subject, and I'd like to continue on with it. If the House rises tomorrow, we're not going to have a meeting on it immediately. I'm fine taking that word out. I just don't want it to mean next January, either.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau

Okay.

It's a friendly amendment. Everybody's in accord with removing the word “immediately”?

5:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:40 p.m.

An hon. member

And eliminating the two meetings.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Raymond Bonin Liberal Nickel Belt, ON

Madam Chair, can we agree to have a consensus that it be put on the list of issues to study?

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau

Or we can vote on the motion. It's the same thing.

All those in favour of the motion...?

5:40 p.m.

An hon member

As amended.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau

As amended, thank you.

5:40 p.m.

An hon. member

What a harmonious little group.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau

(Motion as amended agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau

The meeting is adjourned.