Evidence of meeting #9 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was finance.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
That's a point well taken.
Raphaëlle, could that be part of your task, to take a look at the witnesses who have appeared at other committees and make a determination, if possible, to see if any of that would be considered new and helpful information for our committee's study? Then we can go ahead and do that scheduling.
Mr. Clerk.
3:50 p.m.
The Clerk
If I may, Mr. Chair, to ensure that I am understanding what the committee wants, we will proceed with the fifth and sixth meetings as outlined on the work plan of April 28. The fifth meeting will be Minister Qualtrough, Minister Lebouthillier, and officials from the Canada Revenue Agency. The sixth meeting will have representatives from the PHAC, the Public Health Agency of Canada, in addition to Bill Matthews and Arianne Reza.
There was also a proposition from Mr. McCauley that the Minister of Public Services and Procurement be reinvited. I don't know whether that's for that sixth meeting or not.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
Paul, if we're having another minister appear, why don't we then do that at a separate meeting rather than putting them in with the meetings next Friday?
3:50 p.m.
The Clerk
The meetings for next Friday were already decided on; I'm talking about the week after that. The fifth meeting here would be for May 11; the sixth meeting that I'm detailing would be for May 15. There are two ministers invited for May 11, according to the work plan, and at the sixth meeting, which would take place on May 15, there is no minister invited but there are two representatives from PSPC.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
Mr. McCauley, since we are having witnesses from PSPC on May 15, are you suggesting we have the minister appear on May 15?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
No, because I think PSPC is appearing with PHAC.
Did I hear that right, Mr. Clerk?
3:50 p.m.
The Clerk
Yes, PHAC.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
I think they should probably be separate so that there's proper time.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
I'm not sure I understand the reason for this. To examine the procurement of PPE, why would we want the deputy minister and the minister of the department, who are both coming for a second time, incidentally, to appear separately before this committee? Either we have them together or.... I don't understand at all the rationale for doing two separate sessions.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
I think Mr. Matthews is more for some of the specifics of PPE. If you want to bring [Inaudible—Editor] at the same time, then if necessary we'll bring them back a third time. I just have great concerns that we will use up time discussing the national stockpile, which we're talking about that day, or other issues and get tied up. I'd like some clearer answers from the minister specifically on some of the back and forth, as they're contradicting themselves, and clear messaging, whether it's on Amazon or something else.
I don't think we'll get that all in a one-hour meeting with Mr. Matthews and the minister, which is why I'm suggesting a separate one.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
Colleagues, I can make a suggestion. We have a work plan that takes us until May 15. Under the original parliamentary calendar, we were not sitting the week of May 18. However, that old calendar is out the window and my understanding is there will be virtual parliamentary meetings as well as in-person meetings the week of May 18. Since it is apparent—to me at least—that this study will continue for the foreseeable future, I suggest we defer inviting the minister to come back, as Mr. McCauley suggested, until after May 15. Then during the week of May 11, I will schedule some time at either one or both of our two meetings for committee business and we can talk about the plans for subsequent weeks.
How is that?
3:55 p.m.
An hon. member
It's good.
3:55 p.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Chair, the proposal is to invite the witnesses outlined in the fifth and sixth meetings on the work plan. If that's what the committee wants to decide on, it really should be, according to the order of the House, a recorded division.
Do you wish me to proceed with that question for the committee to vote on now?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
Yes, please, Paul. You're quite right. Procedurally, we do have to have a recorded division on this.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 10; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
Thank you.
Colleagues, seeing that it is 3:59 and our technicians have asked us to adjourn at 4 p.m. sharp, I thank you all for your contributions.
We are adjourned.