Evidence of meeting #5 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 system.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
So can I just ask the clerk, do you have a clear picture of what we're going to be doing in that Thursday meeting, Mr. Clerk?
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Michel Marcotte
Not exactly. At this point, we had decided to have a certain number of meetings, with topics for each meeting. We don't have an actual list of witnesses—
The Clerk
—but only for the two next meetings on SMEs.
As for the general calendar, we took the very last meeting of March 24 and put it today, because the witnesses for today couldn't make it. So they'll be coming on Thursday. So everything else was put back by one meeting, and we just moved up the very last one, because Madame Barrados has been ready since last fall and her report was published last year. So it was the easiest way around.
Now we have two topics. On March 5, there's the stimulus package, where it's not really clear whom we should invite; I need some clear indications on that. And you also might be aware that we were talking about the supplementary estimates (C) for March 12. Originally we were thinking about the 10th, but we know that the main estimates will be tabled on Thursday this week. There's not a whole lot for us to study in the supplementary estimates (C), so we had the feeling you might eventually want to skip those and go directly to the main estimates.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
Thank you for that suggestion.
Are we all in favour of getting started on the main estimates instead of doing the supplementary estimates (C) on March 12? Are we agreed on that?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
If some issue with supplementary estimates (C) comes up during that day, that's fine, we can handle it. That's good. So that decision has been made.
Now, back to March 5. Are there any other comments on that? If you wish to leave this to your chair, I would be happy to organize the meeting with the help of the clerk and the researchers. I was hoping for a consensus or to get some sense of members' wishes in that regard. I'm happy to try to appease you, in the absence of....
Mr. Warkentin.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
In terms of the stimulus package, if we want to talk about infrastructure, there are experts whom we could bring in to discuss how infrastructure spending impacts the economy and how it could be used as a stimulus. I don't think that's what we wanted to do. We could speak to FCM or different groups, but I think for the most part, all of this is on the record and there's limited information that we're going to be provided with at this point about the actual stimulus intended.
If we want to do a review of past moneys that were to flow through Transport, that's somewhat of a different discussion. I don't know.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Derek Lee
If we don't change course, I would have witnesses prepared to outline the administrative procedures in place to handle existing...and the incoming stimulus moneys that are coming out of the budget. And we don't necessarily need a minister to do that. We may ultimately determine that we do, but if you're happy with that, we can take that approach for the Thursday meeting.
There are questions. For example, with the loan and the other assistance to the auto industry, I think the government has requested that organized labour freeze wages, roll back benefits, or whatever, in the organized labour sector of the auto industry. It occurred to me that I don't know whether that question has been put in the construction industry, whether or not it is even an issue. It might not even be an issue. There are a number of issues surrounding the government's investments and stimulus package that we could deal with quite easily at this committee.
That being said, if you're willing to leave it with the chair and the clerk, we'll put together a very interesting meeting. If you're unhappy with the outcome, you can give me a report card.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
I really appreciate your suggestion and I hope that you will not forget to invite witnesses who can talk to us about the proposed national securities commission, as well as about equalization.
In fact, I would like someone to explain to me why Quebec is losing $991 million. Please keep in mind that I would like to get some information about both these issues.
Liberal
