Government Operations Committee on June 7th, 2010

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

I would like to ask the committee to look at this motion to invite Mr. Arthur Hamilton to appear on Wednesday, June 9. While we had also asked the Honourable Helena Guergis to appear at the same time, I don't think that will be possible. Well, actually, it's mostly to have Mr. Arthur Hamilton appear before committee on Wednesday, June 9, 2010.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Before we go into any debate, can I just clarify something? Ms. Guergis sent me a letter, which I received just now as I was sitting in committee, that for health reasons she cannot come on June 9, but she would be willing to come on June 16 and she will be able to do the last hour.

As well, the clerk received by fax a letter from Mr. Arthur Hamilton, who was aware of this motion and has kept his timetable free. So if the committee agrees and this motion passes, Mr. Hamilton is available.

With that, Mr. Warkentin, you had your hand up.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I was just seeking clarification. What you said was very helpful.

Just so that I have this straight, we're looking at June 9. Nevertheless, it looks as though the motion will have to be amended just to accommodate what we now know.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Ms. Guergis cannot make it. Ms. Guergis is requesting that she come on June 16. So if we all go to our calendars and look at them carefully, the only change we want to make is for June 9. Mr. Hamilton states he will come on June 9. Mr. Jaffer has not said he will not come, so we assume he is coming. Ms. Guergis says she will come on June 16. I hope we're still sitting on June 16.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Has Mr. Jaffer received an official invitation?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Yes, he has.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Okay. I just wanted to clarify that because I did speak with Ms. Guergis--she sits behind me in the House--and a couple of days ago she told me she had not received a formal invite at that point.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Herself?

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Herself. So I wanted to clarify. I didn't ask her if she knew if Mr. Jaffer had, but I just wanted to ensure that, in the absence of not hearing...I'm just concerned that maybe it didn't go to... I don't know. I'm sure you've taken care of it. I just wanted to be certain of that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Give me one second because I did ask that question of the clerk as to whether he had sent out an invite to Ms. Guergis, and he assured me she had received it. In fact, she had confirmed June 9. So for her to say she hadn't received it is a little disconcerting. So she confirms with the clerk that June 9 is fine, and then she advises you that she hasn't received it. We can't say that somebody isn't telling the truth, but the bottom line is that the clerk did confirm he had sent the invite.

With Mr. Jaffer, you have sent the invite. Correct?

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Marc-Olivier Girard]

Yes. I've been in communication with him.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

He has been in constant communication with Mr. Jaffer.

The clerk advises me he has proof enough that he has sent communications and spoken to Ms. Guergis' staff. Does that clarify it?

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

That's very helpful. I just wanted to make sure because I know that our time is running out in terms of our days.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Is it a point of order or--

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

A question to Mr. Warkentin about the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Let him finish. He's seeking--

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

No. I appreciate that. Maybe Ms. Mendes was just going to clarify how we might amend this motion to rectify it. Why don't we turn it over to her.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay.

And is it okay by you, Mr. Brown? You were next on my speaking list.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

I had a question for Ms. Mendes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Why don't you ask her the question, and she can handle both questions.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

Okay, perfect.

It was suggested we wouldn't hear from Arthur Hamilton until all documentation submitted to the committee was sent to translation and distributed to committee members. Can you clarify what the documentation is, and maybe the clerk could clarify whether we would have it by June 9? That part of the motion could prevent June 9 if we're not very specific on what that documentation is.

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

That documentation referred to Mr. Jaffer, not to Mr. Hamilton.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

Okay.

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

So that's the amendment we'll have to address in this motion, to stop at “June 9, 2010”, period, second line. Ms. Guergis will not be able to make it on June 9, so we'd stop at “Wednesday, June 9, 2010”, where the semi-colon is.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mr. Martin, if I could clarify something. Ms. Guergis has asked that she receive documents, but not the transcripts, that we as a committee have received, which would enhance her case. So those are the documents...I'm trying to figure out what documents she might want. She might want documents the clerk may have received that some of the witnesses like Mr. Snowdy gave us, so she might want... Whatever documents the clerk feels Ms. Guergis wants, she can have.

Sorry, Ms. Mendes, you wanted to clarify--