Government Operations Committee on Feb. 13th, 2014

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

I find myself fully agreeing with Mr. Martin once again. This is a substantial study, and it'll take much more than four meetings, I think.

To build on Mr. O'Connor's comment about the scope, if you read economic action plan 2014, there's a whole chapter called “Seizing the Opportunities of Open Data”. Initially, it's a $3-million initiative over three years. It's working with some partners, including the Canadian Digital Media Network, as well as the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research.

I was going to suggest, to establish a sense of the scope of this initiative, that we invite the President of the Treasury Board, who owns this initiative, and aim for a Tuesday again, Tuesday, April 01, April Fool's Day—

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Before we start planning an entire agenda for a study that has been proposed but not yet approved and since only one person is left to speak, I suggest that we continue the debate and vote on the motion before we start planning the schedule.

Mr. Trottier, before I give you the floor to talk about the agenda, I will let Mr. Aspin speak. We will proceed with the vote later.

[Jay Aspin, Conservative, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

I'm new to this open text or open data information thing. I'm led to believe that other countries are far ahead of us in this regard. I think that relative to what we should and shouldn't study it would help us give some direction to look at what other countries have done, particularly countries like Great Britain, how they've utilized open data and how they've done it for—as my colleague has pointed out the objectives here—better use of business and government.

I think this would help direct our scope in what we study, but I'm very much in favour of taking a shot at this and keeping it initially wide open.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Since no one is left on my list of speakers, do I have the unanimous consent of the members of the committee to officially undertake the study according to the proposed motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

I officially declare that the study will be undertaken.

We will now move to the specific planning of the committee's next meetings on this study. As you mentioned, we have already talked about February 25 as the date for reviewing the list of witnesses. You may continue, Mr. Trottier.

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Yes, please. When we get back after the constituency week, it would be helpful if on the 25th we sat down with a more detailed list of witnesses. Hopefully the other members of the committee would have some ideas and input on whom to invite, and maybe leave it up to the clerk in terms of scheduling.

The President of the Treasury Board, who will own this initiative, should explain what his vision is. My understanding is he might have a planning and priorities meeting on Tuesday, April 1, but if the clerk can work it out, perhaps we can do a special meeting with the President of the Treasury Board to get him to explain what this initiative would look like.

Also, I think it would be very important at the outset to have representatives from the Canadian Digital Media Network, who are spearheading this initiative, so they could explain their vision for this kind of initiative, and explain also the inspiration, and what's happening in other countries, for example.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

The members of the committee therefore agree to study the list of witnesses on February 25. It will include all the people you just mentioned. We will also have the opportunity to further plan the committee's next meetings, especially the ones in April.

We have already received confirmation from the President of the Treasury Board. He will come and testify on that issue. It will be easier for him to find a time slot since he was already planning to appear. That gives us a week and a half to plan the appearance of witnesses before the committee. That's pretty reasonable. So we can talk about it on February 25.

Do you have anything else to add about this study?

Mr. Byrne, go ahead.

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Not being totally familiar with the initiative itself, which I admit to, would it be possible that the research staff could assemble briefing material before the 25th so that we could better acquaint ourselves?

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Have you read the action plan?

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Twice.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Mr. Byrne, the clerk of the committee advises me that there is no problem with that. That will help you to—

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Also, if recommendations could be given for witnesses in that document, that would be helpful as well.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Yes, the analysts can do so. As a result, if we have the suggestions for the witnesses who might appear before the committee, we will be able to better understand the issue by then.

Do you have any other comments?

Mr. Trottier, go ahead.

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Not to give all kinds of extra work to the analysts, but what might also be helpful is a synopsis of what's going on in other countries, which would give us a sense, if we want to compare notes with other countries, of who we would invite.

[Gordon O'Connor]

We can't travel. I know that.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

I think that can work. I don't want to speak for the analysts, but it can work.

Are there any other comments?

Mr. Clerk, go ahead.

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

I don't have a comment, but a question for the members of the committee.

If the committee wants to consider the lists of witnesses from all the political parties—with the exception of the study of March 25—could you set a deadline for emailing those lists to the clerk? I need to put them together before I bring the list on March 25. For instance, March 20 would work very well.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

We were talking about February 25 for the study.

[The Clerk]

I apologize, I meant to say February 25. So we are talking about next week. That will be Thursday, February 20, at the latest. I will put them together on Friday and make sure that they are translated and that we are ready to go on February 25.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Will the analysts be able to do that? They need at least a few days for the briefing document and the list of witnesses.

Are you able to do that, Ms. McGlashan? Could you tell us how that would work?

[Lindsay McGlashan, Committee Researcher]

We can definitely prepare a list of suggested witnesses and we can do a briefing book for the study. André and I can work on that and get it out as quickly as possible.

As for the timing of it, it would be helpful to us to know how soon the committee would like it. Then, depending on that timing, to a certain extent it might dictate how lengthy the analysis part of the briefing book is. If the priority is to get a list of suggested witnesses from us and an explanation of what open data is and the country comparisons.... We're happy to pull it together, but it would be helpful for us to know the timing that would work best for the members.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

It is important to recognize that there is not much time between today and the date when the list of witnesses has to be studied. February 20 is the deadline for suggesting witnesses. So it would have to be something concise with a list of witnesses and a shorter explanation, but the briefing document will have to be more detailed. We would start hearing from witnesses in April.

Mr. O'Connor, go ahead.

[Gordon O'Connor]

I just want to be clear. We're not putting a time limit on the study. You're just talking about getting it launched. Is that right?

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

February 20 is the deadline for submitting the list of witnesses, which will be studied on February 25.