Government Operations Committee on Feb. 8th, 2011

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Colleagues, I see that we have a quorum. It's 11 o'clock, so could we get started?

Before we do, on behalf of the committee, I just want to offer congratulations to Chris Warkentin and his wife on the birth of a very large boy. Congratulations.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Before I ask the minister to speak, Ms. Coady wants in.

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

Thank you very much.

Again, Chris, congratulations.

May I make a suggestion? I ask the chair, and perhaps the President of the Treasury Board will be in compliance--we only have an hour with the minister this morning, and I was wondering if we could dispense with his opening statement. I understand copies will be distributed; perhaps we can go right into questions. That will give us the maximum amount of time to ask questions of the minister concerning his operating budget freeze. Is that possible?

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

No. The clerk advises me that I need unanimous consent for that, and that's the end of that.

Is this a separate issue?

Mr. Calandra....

I'm sorry, Mr. Minister.

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Is it within the rules of procedure for me to speak to that, just as the person who's invited to be here?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I suppose we could recognize the minister, yes.

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

I've been asked to be here for quite obvious reasons, not the least of which is to address a number of broad and sweeping statements, especially those as related to the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, and I feel that not being able to open with some comments and observations would be somewhat counterproductive to me taking the time to be here. So I would appreciate the usual accord that is given to presenters and to be able to have some opening comments.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

You have the usual accord, Minister. It has to be unanimous consent for the committee to dispense with the opening statement.

Mr. Calandra.

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

On a separate issue, Mr. Chair, we have gone through this a number of times, and yet I think today we'll be seized yet again with an agenda that came upon us, or at least came upon me, by surprise yesterday afternoon.

I'm going to ask the clerk about this. When I saw the notice yesterday...in the second hour today we are to have the Church Council on Justice and Corrections appearing before us. I wonder if you could tell me how it is that they came to appear before us later this afternoon, if they are here to talk about the study on the budget freezes, and just explain to me how it's possible that we continuously have last-minute agenda items without the committee ever being made aware of it. Who actually sets the agenda for the committee, and why is it the members can never be made aware in advance?

I don't like preparing for a committee 10 minutes or 15 minutes before it happens. I wonder if the clerk could explain to me how it is that every time I come to this meeting there is a surprise witness.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We'll deal with that item prior to the next witness, Mr. Calandra.

We have only an hour with the minister, and I think it would be appropriate that the minister lead with his opening statement at this point. Then we will address that issue prior to the second hour.

Is this on the same point, Mr. Cannan? You have a different point. Do you wish to raise it now or do you wish--

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just want to clarify if the clerk or analyst has the library report of questions. We received it at 4:20 p.m. yesterday, but I didn't receive it until earlier this morning because it went to my staff and I was in another committee meeting. I'd like to get a hard copy if possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Are we talking about the minister's remarks, or are we talking about the Library of Parliament--

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

The Library of Parliament, the questions for the minister's appearance here today. I'm just wondering why we received it so late, at the end of the day yesterday.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I don't have an answer for that.

Mr. Cannan's question is why was it distributed so late, at 4:30 in the afternoon. Do you have an answer for that?

[Édison Roy-César, Committee Researcher]

That was due to a translation delay. Usually we are happy when we can get it the day before the meeting.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Can't you send it out in one language and then get the other one and send it out? Why does everybody have to wait?

[Édison Roy-César]

It has to be sent in both languages to the committee because that's the rule--

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Simultaneously--so everybody gets delayed because of the inefficiencies of the operation.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Welcome to Parliament.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

That's really efficient. I wonder why our productivity in Canada is so low.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you.

We have before us Minister Day.

Monsieur Vincent.

[Robert Vincent, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

I would just like to say one thing to Mr. Cannan. If he wants to have the documents in just one language, they could be provided in French. Then he would be satisfied; the problem would be solved and we would be more efficient.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Yes, that works for everybody.

Any other interventions prior to the minister?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, can the clock start when the minister starts speaking?