Government Operations Committee on Nov. 14th, 2007

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I do appreciate that, Madam Chair. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

All those in favour of routine motions?

Monsieur Nadeau.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

If we discussed the motions one at a time, it might be somewhat quicker.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

These motions are exactly the same as the ones from the last session.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

For the sake of my own clarification and memory, what is the speaking order arranged to be?

[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.

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

Liberal, Bloc, Conservative, NDP, Liberal, Conservative, and thereafter five minutes, including—

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

That's right. That's the way it was before.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

So we're just going to continue—

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Yes, I think that worked well.

Are there any other questions? Ça va bien?

Mr. Silva.

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I don't think there's a problem with that.

[Mario Silva, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Okay, is everyone in agreement with that?

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

One additional staff member per party.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Yes, which would be from the whip's office.

[Mario Silva, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Per House office, whoever that person would be.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Okay, I don't have any problems with that.

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

If you don't work for the whip.

[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.

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Yes.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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.