Government Operations Committee on Oct. 6th, 2022

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Yes, for October, all we are asking for is the list of trips made by the three governors general and the list of their expenses for 2022.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

That's right.

After that, we will determine…. We are looking for that information by January 15, is that right?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

We are asking that it be produced by January 15 or 25. I can't remember anymore.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

We also need time to review other documents.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Yes.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Does that make sense?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

For October 31, we are asking for the expenses from the trip to the Middle East and the list of trips taken by Mr. Johnston, Ms. Payette and Ms. Simon.

On October 15, we are going to hear from the witnesses and figure out which years we want to examine the travel expenses for.

In mid-January, so around January 15, we are going to receive the documents related to the trips and years requested. That is my understanding.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

That's exactly right, because the committee could opt to request documents that go back more than six years. The amendment refers only to the years selected.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Very well.

We won't spend forever trying to work out which trip-related documents we want to ask for. If we say we want the documents for 2016, those are the ones we will get. When the time comes to figure out—

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

If we want the ones for 2016, yes.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Great.

Just a reminder, Mr. Housefather, the meeting is being recorded.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Yes. You are being recorded.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

All right.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

We'll move to a vote.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Before we go on—

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Yes, it's the same ones.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

For clarification, are we talking about the amendment or are we talking about the motion?

We're talking about the amendment—

[The Clerk]

Is that the amendment of Mr. Housefather?

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

—of Mr. Housefather.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

As I understand it—and maybe I am wrong—what Ms. Vignola just said is absolutely consistent with the amendment that I tabled.

On October 31, we're to receive the documents related to the 2022 trip and a list of all of the travel of the current Governor General and the previous two Governors General. The committee will then hear from the witnesses in November and we will decide which years we want to ask about for all of the foreign travel expenses. It could be six years or it could be more than six years, but that will be up to the committee.

I think what she said is exactly what I tabled. Those documents, when we decide on the years, would be due in January.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Do we agree that the documents related to the Middle East trip should be unredacted?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Yes.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

We'll get that information by October 31.

Do we agree on that?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Yes.