Evidence of meeting #1 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
3:35 p.m.
Bloc
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
If we discussed the motions one at a time, it might be somewhat quicker.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
These motions are exactly the same as the ones from the last session.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
For the sake of my own clarification and memory, what is the speaking order arranged to be?
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
My understanding, if I recall from the past session, is that it was Liberals, Bloc, Conservatives, NDP, Liberals, and then it alternates more. If you look, it's down here: Liberal Party, Bloc Québécois....
I just remember the way we did it before, which went quite well.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC
Liberal, Bloc, Conservative, NDP, Liberal, Conservative, and thereafter five minutes, including—
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
Yes, I think that worked well.
Are there any other questions? Ça va bien?
Mr. Silva.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
Mario Silva Liberal Davenport, ON
Madam Chair, as a point of clarification, I think we're just going to adopt the procedures as is from the past, which is fine. The only clarification that I think is acceptable to the members is that when we talked about staff in the in camera meetings, if we could also have the whip staff as well, because sometimes they're needed, from every party, if there's a need for them to come to—
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
Guess who does?
That said, all those in favour?
You want a motion? No, we don't really need a motion; they're all in favour.
Passed. No need to spend a lot of time. We all know what's there.
Before we adjourn, though, I'd like us to take a few minutes to think in terms of future business. I think we have time to discuss it now. There are a number of things we have to deal with as a committee.
One thing is the report from Madame Barrados. I believe it was referred to the House, was it this week, yesterday, Tuesday? The researchers would be able to tell us that. I believe the researchers would be ready with information for the committee members, so I'm wondering whether the committee would be interested in meeting with Madame Barrados at next Monday's meeting, at 3:30, if the research people are ready with the information so that the committee members can be updated.
Monsieur Nadeau.
3:35 p.m.
Bloc
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
You have just proposed something concerning Ms. Barrados, but simply to make sure that I am following the discussion accurately, I would like to know if we are proposing topics right now.
3:40 p.m.
Bloc
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
I do not know if you have any other topics in mind, but for my part, I want to propose the topic of buildings. We had asked for a moratorium, but we know what happened. Perhaps everyone's definition of “moratorium” is not the same. I absolutely want us to get back to the question of sale and lease-back. I know that Mr. Moore must be really impatient at the very thought.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
There was one other matter to discuss.
If I can remind you, there was also the issue of pay and benefits. I think that's a very difficult one, and I think we should pursue it.
If you recall, at the end of the last session in June we had asked that the clerk or his representative appear before the committee and we could get an update on what's gone on with this file since we last dealt with it. We also wrote a letter to the Auditor General asking her to look into it. So there were two things that happened at the very end. My feeling is that there are still major problems with pay and benefits across the public service, and I think it's important for us to address that.
Mr. Warkentin.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
On that point, I recall from the final meetings that some of the witnesses we brought forward really weren't the witnesses we should have brought forward, because we didn't seem to get the information we were looking for.
Has there been any correspondence between you or the clerk in terms of suggestions about who might be better to talk to on that?
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
We can get the researchers to look at that, but I think we still have to talk with the officials of Treasury Board and Public Works as to what is happening. I don't recall getting anything official on this over the summer, but I was informed that Treasury Board did do a study on pay and benefits. It might be nice if they could update us on what they found.