Evidence of meeting #32 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was business.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Kelly McCauley Conservative Edmonton West, AB
Yes. I was just going to confirm that.
We're back on the 30th. Do you want to give it to the 27th, the Friday before we're back, as opposed to the 15th? I don't care. I'm just wondering.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
We're keeping it at the 15th. That way you have time to—
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
I'd say the 25th, but if you prefer the 15th, the 15th is fine.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
Is the consensus for the 15th? Is that correct? There is nodding of heads. Yes.
Conservative
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I realize that my fellow members want to take a look back in time, but former governor general Johnston was in office for nearly a decade, if my memory serves me correctly.
I think it's reasonable to have the study go back to 2014. That would give us three years for Mr. Johnston, three years for Ms. Payette, and the rest of the time for Ms. Simon. That would be fair. If we select a period of more than 10 years, we are going a long way back and we could talk about Michaëlle Jean.
We could look at the last three years of each governor general's time in office. We could go back to 2014. Then, we could decide what information we want for the 2014 to 2017 period. That's three years. We would also have three years for Ms. Payette, which would include time during the pandemic.
I realize what my fellow members are trying to do, but we need to be fair about the period we examine from each one's time in office.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Fine, but if we have a list of the travel and we can choose the years we look at, what's wrong with asking for the trips Mr. Johnston took in 2010 or 2011?
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
It's just about being fair in choosing the period of time we look at. Ms. Payette was in office for three years and four months. If we choose a three-year period for each, we would have the last three years of Mr. Johnston's time in office. That's all I'm saying.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
We have to think about the logistics of the request, both for the people who will have to find the information and for us.
It may be easier for the people doing the research if they knew that we were going to request information for the period from 2014 to 2022, so eight years. If we go back to them later and ask them for information pertaining to other years and other trips, it may be harder for them to dig through the archives. I'm not an archivist, but I think it could make things harder for them.
As I already said, I would like to reach a consensus. It's not that radical of an idea. It could be the option that makes things easiest for the people doing the research. I don't want to make this agonizing for them.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
As I look around the room, I see a couple of sights. I'll allow members a minute to discuss among themselves and to get back on this.
I'll just throw in my little two cents. Ultimately, in terms of going back 10 years, the cost of things 10 years ago is not the same as the cost of things today. We have to keep that in mind.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
In the first paragraph, the year would change to 2014, then.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
We're agreeing to not go back to the beginning of Mr. Johnston's tenure but only start in 2014.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
We're starting with 2014 as opposed to going back to 2011. Mr. Housefather's amendment is what we're changing.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Yes. Basically, it would be the two previous Governors General, but Mr. Johnston would only start in fiscal year 2014.
The Clerk
Just to clarify, it will be the two previous Governors General and the activities of Mr. Johnston following 2014.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
It would be the current Governor General, Madam Payette, and Mr. Johnston starting with January 2014.