Evidence of meeting #13 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 witnesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:05 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
Order.
Before we go to our guests I'm going to ask the clerk to give us an explanation of what happened and why the guests we asked to come are not here.
9:05 a.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Michel Marcotte
Thank you, Madam Chair.
As soon as I got back to my office, I made some telephone calls to reach all the witnesses appearing on the list of the adopted motion. The calls were made between 11:34 a.m. and 12:09 p.m. on Tuesday. However, the answers were slow in coming in some cases, despite reminders. Essentially, none of the six witnesses was available to appear before the committee this morning. I'll give you the details for each of them. However, it appeared quite early in my discussions with the potential witnesses that a window was opening for next Thursday. Of course, it can't be next week, since we are in recess, but Thursday the 28th. So I immediately confirmed that date, and it appears that most of the witnesses would be available on the 28th.
That's the first item of good news. In view of the witnesses' absence this morning, I've taken the initiative, after discussing the matter with the Chair, of summoning the originally scheduled witnesses and of holding the meeting on the Soudas-Housakos affair on Thursday the 28th, with your consent, of course.
9:05 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
I must remind you that we passed a motion to study another matter on the 28th. Must we introduce a motion to change that?
9:05 a.m.
The Clerk
We can introduce a motion. I've tried to stick to the spirit of the motion, even though I could not comply with it to the letter. Today's meeting was scheduled following the five meetings; it will be held today. The meeting of the 26th would concern light rail, as provided in the motion, that of the 28th would concern what was provided for today, and the last two meetings would correspond respectively to meetings three and four mentioned in the motion adopted Tuesday.
9:05 a.m.
Liberal
9:05 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Clerk, you used the words “seems” and “would be”. What guarantee do we have that the witnesses will be here on the 28th? That's my first question. Second, can we invite them strongly or insist strongly? Do we have the means to ensure that they will be here? Third, Madam Chair, I would be prepared to introduce a motion to change the agenda, but then we would have to ensure that the next agendas are changed.
9:05 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
Very well. We can introduce a motion.
What's the French word for summon?
9:05 a.m.
The Clerk
It's an assignation à comparaître.
9:05 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
Mr. Clerk, going back to the words “seems” and “would be”, that means that we have no guarantee. We have no time to waste. We passed that motion; so we have to ensure that the witnesses are here. What can we do?
9:10 a.m.
Bloc
9:10 a.m.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
I suppose the motion could read as follows: “The members of the committee summon—
9:10 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Diane Marleau
We'll start with Madame Folco, and we'll go with Mr. Kramp, Mr. Albrecht, and Mr. Warkentin.
9:10 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I take this opportunity to second Ms. Bourgeois' motion, since I was going to move something similar.