Evidence of meeting #9 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was service.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Just for clarification, because I think it's important, the wording of that text is very specific as it relates to a summons. It says that once somebody has turned down...
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Shall I read it again? “But situations may arise where an individual does not agree to appear and give evidence.”
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Peace River, AB
Yes, I guess that's the important point. If in fact this witness does not agree, then I think we should summon. But up until that point, we don't want to set precedents here.
Liberal
Liberal
Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON
Could we say that if an invitation is refused, then they are summoned?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Is it agreed, everybody?
So we're sending them an invitation, and then, if they refuse, we'll give them a summons?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Okay. Can we vote on the motion to send an invitation to the witnesses for the dates suggested?
Liberal
Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON
Can I just clarify? If there is an issue of timing, and If we're going to do this, then I would ask that the subsequent motion be that each of the four people in the motion...
May I ask the clerk for—
Liberal
Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Let it read that the committee invite Mr. Jaffer, invite Mr. Mike Mihelic, invite Mr. Patrick Glémaud, invite Mr. Nazim Gillani, and in each case in this motion, if that invitation is refused, to then issue a summons. There's no point in going through this all over again, a second time.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Can we copy straight from page 974? That way we are not violating any processes. Is it agreeable?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
Thank you very much.
We will proceed with committee business, which is public and is being televised.
Welcome to the witnesses. Please take your seats. We apologize for this delay, but we are thankful that you waited to see how the committee was doing its business. It appears that the committee is functioning well.
The bells will ring at 5:15.
Welcome, all of you. Today we are still studying the freeze on departmental budget envelopes and government operations.
We have before us Mr. John Gordon, the national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, and Mr. Steve Jelly, political assistant to the national president and executive office.
From the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada we have Mr. Garry Corbett, president, and Mr. Walter Belyea, acting manager for policy and national representational services.
Do we have the Canadian Association of Professional Employees?
We'll have them afterwards. Fine.
Bloc
Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC
I would just like to ask that you ensure we will be able to hear from all the witnesses who are appearing today. Another group of witnesses is also scheduled to appear.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Have the witnesses from the Canadian Association of Professional Employees arrived here?
Would you please join us at the table? This way we will ensure that there's fairness and equity in the time that's—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
And the Association of Canadian Financial Officers as well.
Merci, Madame Bourgeois.
How many of you have presentations to make, so that we can ask you to keep your presentations short?
Mr. Gordon, you do, and Mr. Corbett, you do, and also Mr. Poirier and Mr. Isaacs.
If you could keep your presentations to five minutes each, that will give the committee sufficient time. I will hit the gavel at five minutes.
We'll start off with Mr. Gordon for five minutes.
John Gordon National President, Executive Office, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Madam Chair, I was brought here under false pretence, I guess, because we were told that we would have a minimum of ten minutes, and that's what we prepared to take. To ask me at this late stage of the game to do something—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
You could use that time to answer questions, because really, the committee is studying the freeze and its impact, so the Qs and As will give them enough time.
So if you do that, it would be appreciated. Thank you.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Point of order, Madam Chair. I'm sorry.
I have great regard for what Mr. Gordon says. I also want to get into this quickly, but I feel some empathy for this situation. Give him his time. I think that's proper.