Government Operations Committee on Feb. 10th, 2011

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

We do have time.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I said at the beginning of the hour that we would reserve the final five minutes for Madam Coady.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

She just had five minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

No, no. It's for this--

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I think we should.... We don't get these witnesses often. I think it would be appropriate if we--

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I'm in the hands of the committee. As you know, this room has to be available by one o'clock. We do have this motion that Madam Coady has put. I'm happy to run the clock, but the next questioner would be Monsieur Vincent.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Let's try to get the time. You know, if Mr. Vincent has questions, then he can ask them.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

There may be no time left--

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

If there is time.

We can deal with that at the subcommittee meeting. I think it was generally decided.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Now that she has put forward the motion, I'm obliged to deal with it.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Several motions that have been brought forward have been dealt with at subcommittee in the past, and I don't think it's uncommon practice. I think we should probably--

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

Three meetings now.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

In three meetings it hasn't gone anywhere. It's fine, so it can wait another meeting. I don't think anything is time-pressing--

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

That's a point of argument.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

--or that's necessary.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

It is a motion. It is properly before the committee. I have no unilateral ability to defer that to a subcommittee.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Can we have consent from the mover?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

If Mr. Vincent does his five minutes, you could possibly arrive at a consensus among the four parties as to how to deal with this.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

That might be a bit more fair for those people who are still waiting to ask questions in this round.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I'm fine with that, but--

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

You're running out the clock now.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Could I ask the representatives of the four parties to discuss it and advise the chair as to how you wish...?

Monsieur Vincent.

[Robert Vincent, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Chair, since we only have five minutes left, we obviously will not have time to do a second round.

I would like to make a request. Mr. Dicerni told us that the department had invested in infrastructures, in post-secondary teaching establishments, including CEGEPs. I would like to know the breakdown of investments per province.

[Richard Dicerni]

I will send it to you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Okay, thank you.

Thank you for your interventions on behalf of the committee. I appreciate them.

We'll now turn to Madam Coady's motion and deal with that.