Evidence of meeting #17 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was business.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
No, they are quite distinct. The only question is that if one of the government members wants to undertake to ensure we have a witness from Industry Canada, I'm happy to go with that.
Mr. Warkentin.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
I can't guarantee that I can drag somebody from Industry along with me, but I'm happy to do that, to make the suggestion and advocate on behalf of our committee, if that's the desire of the committee. But I have to concur with Ms. Hall Findlay that there is some information that would be helpful. We need to speak to Public Works to find out exactly what their current policy is, because we've heard a lot of submissions in terms of what the opinions of lobby groups are about what Public Works desires or is thinking. It is important we speak to them.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
On the relationship between the witnesses and Public Works, probably if we have Public Works before us, we'll fill up a meeting just speaking to Public Works. That's why I'm not—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
Are you saying you want to dispense with calling the witness from Industry Canada? Is this the decision of members?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
I'd just like members to deal with that one issue right now and not go off onto sidebars. I want to deal with the issue. Does the committee wish to call the witness from Industry Canada, yes or no?
Liberal
Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON
It may depend if we have the report by then. It actually relates to the value of calling a witness from Industry Canada.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
Are you arguing in favour of putting off any decision? Give me some clarity here.
Liberal
Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON
It may be that somebody has more information about when the report is coming.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Mr. Chair, if it's a yes or no, the answer from me is no, but perhaps we could put it off until we find out if we can get some additional information. My sense is that they are related only in that, if next meeting is considered to be the last meeting on this discussion.... I'm not going to be satisfied with one more meeting. We've only started to get to the bottom of what I think the problem is.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
It is evident to the chair that it is not the will of members to call the witness from Industry Canada. Given that this discussion is happening on the public record, the witness will probably take this as a dispensation. I'm in the hands of members on this particular issue.
Madame Bourgeois, please wrap up on this.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
I would just like to take 30 seconds, Mr. Chairman, to say that I agree with the idea of inviting Industry Canada to appear. This is too important an issue right now. We are for ever talking about economic recovery plans. However, Mr. Chairman, if you have nothing to hide, you will agree to appear before the Committee. So, there is something fishy here.
Also, if we want to call witnesses from PWGSC, that is fine. This morning, it was clear that the culture at PWGSC poses a problem. That culture is the Conservative culture. What can you expect? The situation is crystal clear. I think it would be far better to invite Industry Canada officials to appear before PWGSC, because it is very clear that the culture is the issue.
That's what I wanted to say, Mr. Chairman.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
Merci.
We can invite them again. The problem, Madame Bourgeois, is that we have invited them and they've been reluctant to accept our invitation.
Having said that as politely as I can, we will leave that issue where it is and we'll go to the next issue, which is where this report is that we had hoped would be....
Ms. Hall Findlay, I asked for members to make a decision. Members do not want to call the Industry Canada witness. I will consider the matter closed.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
You obviously want to talk about a report that's not here as opposed to calling the witness. Mr. Warkentin doesn't want to call the witness. Madame Bourgeois would like to invite the witness.
We're either going to have a motion here now or we're not. If no one's going to move the motion, we'll go on to the next issue.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
In the past, I think we've always worked on a consensus when it comes to inviting witnesses. Mr. Chair, I would take it upon myself to inquire, even to the minister, as to what the problem might be in Industry Canada. So I will do that.
What I'd suggest maybe in the future, because we have always worked in a cooperative fashion, is that if you're having difficulty getting a witness.... This is the first I've heard of it. I have not heard about it. I don't remember us as a committee deciding we were going to invite somebody from Industry Canada.
Before we escalate it to this type of a discussion at a committee meeting, I'm happy to engage in a discussion. I know all my committee colleagues are willing to discuss—
Liberal
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
—this at another time, but we will work cooperatively to try to get all the witnesses.
I think what Ms. Hall Findlay and I are saying is that at this point we see there is a necessity to talk to some other folks and get some other information. It would be great to talk to Industry, but that's not where our priority is at the moment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
Good. That disposes of the issue, and your chair is very content with that.
The next issue is this report. Mr. Clerk, where is the report Ms. Hall Findlay is waiting for and we're all waiting for?
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Michel Marcotte
It has been said for a few weeks now that Public Works is working on the business plan report, as requested. As of this morning, there's still no report in sight. We don't know whether or not we're going to have it today, tomorrow, next week.
I only have two witnesses confirmed from Public Works this Thursday, namely Liliane saint pierre and Shereen Miller, who have both appeared before the committee before.
There is an option of a third witness, provided the report is sent to the members. I was told quite some time ago that the report, when available, would be sent directly to the members. If you do receive the report, then we might invite that third person, but he can speak for himself.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
The bottom line is that there's the report out there in process, it's not ready for prime time yet, and we're still waiting for it. I take it that report will be directly relevant to the subject matter of our study now. Is that correct?