Government Operations Committee on Nov. 18th, 2010

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

All right, I--

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

--doesn't become us.

I guess I would ask the question, Mr. Chair. Tell me, if they didn't, would we hold them in contempt? Is that where this goes?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I think I'm going to have to cut debate here.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Yes, I'm done.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We're simply running out of time.

I don't like the way this vote is shaping up.

The clerk has brought to my attention a couple of matters. The first has to do with the word “orders”. Generally speaking, it's a request before it's an order. Is that appropriate, to change the word “orders” to “requests”?

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

It's the same motion we had before.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

We've requested it twice before, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

The other issue the clerk has brought to my attention is are you requesting of the Ontario Provincial Police or the public--

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Sorry, you asked about “orders”. Mine says the committee “requests” that the Ontario Provincial Police provide details.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I have “orders”--“requests”, up here, but the committee “orders” that information be provided.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

I wanted it today. If you'd like me to change that to “requests”, then I will do that.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

That's a bit more consistent with practice.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Sure.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

The second issue is whether it's five calendar days, five parliamentary days, or five business days.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Well, when we put them forward before, we asked for them as expeditiously as possible. If you'd like my clarification, I would like to have it by next week, if I could. I want it by the middle of next week. If that's five parliamentary days, then so be it.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

The five parliamentary days starts to run toward the end of next week.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

That would be Thursday, wouldn't it?

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Then we'll leave it as is. You know what? Why don't we leave it as is and have the vote.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

They really are trying very hard to hide this.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

I would just appreciate knowing, because what's being discussed here is not what I have written on the notice of motion that I have on paper in front of me. Would you do me the courtesy of reading, in English, the wording of the motion exactly, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

“The committee requests”, and then there's a second word further down at the bottom “that the committee orders”, so we're just changing that language, so that “requests” and “requests” is consistent language.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

No, I understand that, but could you just read it to me?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Yes.

The Committee requests that the Ontario Provincial Police provide it with the details of all their costs associated with the G8 and G20 Summits, including for goods, services and overtime salaries, providing for each contract (i) the name of the contractor, (ii) a description of the goods or services provided, (iii) the value of the contract, (iv) how the contract was awarded, (v) whether the cost was associated with the G8, G20 or both; and that the Committee requests that this information be provided in both electronic and paper form within 5 calendar days.

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

I'm going to leave it as it is and go to a vote.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Five calendar days or five working days?