Government Operations Committee on March 10th, 2010

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

I think it's important to start off so that everyone is comfortable. There's no rush to deal with this. If Madam Bourgeois wants to make sure that this is as innocent as it sounds to all of us, I don't think it hurts to wait until the next meeting to adopt this.

Plus, I think that would actually give us time. If I recall, in past discussions about the agenda and the calendar of the committee, it doesn't end up being a five-minute or ten-minute discussion. It ends up being a bit longer because we all have ideas on things we want to study. So maybe if we wait to adopt this routine motion, we can all submit suggestions of things we'd like to study so that we can have a list to discuss at that meeting as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Ms. Hall Findlay.

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Seeing a chance of getting consensus on moving forward, I just want to make the point that the only reason for this motion is the prorogation, and that had we not prorogued we wouldn't actually need this motion, because it's continuing the study that we were in the process of doing.

Work does not bother me. Honestly, after two months, we are ready to work, we need to work. It is our duty as members of the opposition to continue our work. I would really like to do it, but if we need to wait another weekend, another half a week, we can. But,

I would like to say that we as Liberals would certainly be prepared to actually go ahead, starting today, because after two months I think we've wasted enough time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay.

Mr. Martin.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

It isn't a matter of not being willing to work; it's simply that there's only one item on the order paper. It's a matter of due process here. We were convened today to be constituted as a committee. Now that we're constituted, motions can be filed with due notice, etc.

We could have.... I suppose it's at the call of the chair. You could say that the next regularly scheduled meeting will be a planning meeting where we can talk about future business. But already we've had two items kind of sneak on to the agenda, one a very minor issue that Chris has raised, which I'm happy to agree with, but also this motion that we should be dealing with a report from the last session of Parliament, a report that none of us has seen.

There's only one thing I would suggest in order to expedite things further. Now that the committee has been constituted, there's nothing stopping the clerk from circulating a draft of that report so that we might read it over the weekend. Then, after the planning meeting on Monday, perhaps on the following Wednesday we would be in a position to discuss that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you, Mr. Martin.

The reason for the motion is that you cannot have that draft report unless you agree to have that draft report given to you. You can't even study it over the weekend if you do not have a motion to take the report.

What we were going to do is say, okay, if you agree to have the report, then the analyst could say, “Here is what we were stopped at before the prorogation”, and you could read it, because we have to present that report to the House for a response. But you can only do it if you pass a motion.

If there is no unanimous consent, then I will have to ask for an adjournment of the meeting. But there shouldn't be any confusion about anyone sneaking out a report on you. It is not a report being sneaked out. All this is doing is seeking the committee's approval for the analyst to bring the report we have already studied. We had already finished the study on the stimulus package. That has culminated in a report. It's a five-page report, according to the analyst.

If it's a five-page report, the only way I can bring the report at the next meeting is if you agree to have the report brought back, through a motion. But if you don't....

So are we back on the page or are we confused? Is there confusion?

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

If it is just for the report, then it is fine. Please understand, Madam Chair, that I do not want to create precedents in this committee. If it is just for the report, I have no objection. If we are going to adopt motions from everywhere—I want none of it—it is out of the question. It is fine for the report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay. So then, here is the chair proposing that the analyst be given the direction to bring forth the report of the stimulus package study that we had finished, so that the committee, at its next meeting on Monday, the fifteenth, can have a look at the report, start reviewing the report, and make the necessary amendments. At least we have a meeting that will help us get started. If that's the case, we can do it. If you're all in agreement....

Can I see unanimous consent to that? Should I repeat what I said? Is anybody confused?

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

I am. With just one point, there's a little confusion. I'm sorry.

In order to be able to talk about the report this coming Monday, when would we be able to get a copy of the report?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

You would be--

[Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Just the draft report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Here is what the procedure is. The clerk has in his possession the electronic version of the report. The moment you say yes, it will be released to you in an hour's time--or a few hours' time--and you will have the weekend to review it and come back with a fruitful discussion for Monday.

D'accord?

Mr. Brown.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

Does this mean that at our next meeting we're going to be discussing that report? Or are we going to have time to decide what we want to discuss? Because I wouldn't presume.... Monday is the planning meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

You can do both. The report is a five-page report. I don't think it will take you.... I mean, it's the committee's will.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

We spent weeks on stimulus funding. It could easily take up the whole meeting. My preference would be that the next meeting be a planning meeting and that we not assume we necessarily will go into analyzing stimulus again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

That's fine. That's okay, as long as we are in agreement that the clerk is given the authority to distribute the report to all members. On Monday, we can plan, and we can discuss when this report comes out and in what sequence.

D'accord? Yes?

[An hon. member]

Oui.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay.

We have a motion to adjourn, which is adopted.

The meeting is adjourned.