Government Operations Committee on Oct. 6th, 2009

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Thank you.

I would like to speak for the two Liberal members here. We certainly don't have a problem with redoing the schedule. If there are witnesses lined up for Thursday, I think we can express our group apologies for changing, if that's what happens.

I would like to support Mr. Warkentin's comments earlier, because we had the same discussion, that it would be good to establish a steering committee to not only establish the first group of sessions, but on an ongoing basis. Madam Chair, I think you mentioned weekly, on Thursdays. I think that's a very good thing to do. Perhaps not every Thursday, but be prepared to do so on an as needed basis as a steering committee.

I wanted to close the loop, in that I think as a committee we are exhibiting rather positive cooperation and collegiality.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you.

I thought you wanted to get your work done on Thursday, so I was willing to go with the old agenda, but since it's not the consensus of the committee, we will wipe the slate clean and the steering committee will meet at noon on Thursday and prepare a plan of action for the next weeks. That will mean that on Thursday, October 8, we won't have anything to study, and that's my concern.

Madame Bourgeois.

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Pardon me, Madam Chair. The steering committee is meeting Thursday at noon. It will have to report back to the members of this committee and see whether they agree with its decisions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

The purpose of the steering committee is to reach consensus. There is representation from each party. They will be there and will decide the timetable. Once that timetable is set, it is presented to the committee here, and then we will move forward with the study. Once the timetable is set, that will not be up for discussion.

I am letting you know, then, that the Thursday meeting will be a short meeting. We will be presenting to the committee at large what our agenda items are for the next few weeks.

Are there other things members want to ask, discuss, or present?

The meeting is adjourned.