Evidence of meeting #33 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 app.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:20 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
I have to say a few words too.
I've sat on a few committees, and I've sat with you, Mr. Chair, on Veterans Affairs, and we've worked together in many roles. I have to say that you've done a great job of bringing people together and trying to find ways to work together and hold government to account. I have to thank you for the way you work with other parliamentarians and for taking on this role in such a collaborative way.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Mr. Chair, besides the fact that we're both lifelong and long-suffering Leafs fans, which has bound us together—
12:20 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
—I purposely wanted to be back on this committee. I think this is an excellent committee that does excellent work, and I truly believe that Canadians are served well by the work of this committee.
We find common ground on this committee. We work collaboratively together. We don't always get everything that we want on every vote, but we always find that all of us here come together, put our heads together and try to find a common ground that advances the concerns and the issues that are important to Canadians.
Mr. Chair, you've been an incredible part of that. It's something that I talk about to my colleagues with great pride, and it has a lot to do with your leadership on this committee in making sure that it is one where there's respect for ideas and for the members who sit around this table. This is a great testament to your leadership, your ability to bring people together and your ability to communicate.
I want to say thank you, sir, for your service. It really has been a pleasure working with you over the last number of years.
Thank you.
12:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
Thank you. This wasn't supposed to be that. It was purely....
Ms. Thompson, go ahead.
12:25 p.m.
Liberal
Joanne Thompson Liberal St. John's East, NL
I'll be very quick.
As the person who is probably the newest around the table on this committee, absolutely, thank you. In coming into a committee where there is history with the members who sit around the table, I will say as a person who is new to Parliament and also new to this structure that you were absolutely supportive in terms of your ability to be inclusive and absolutely collaborative. I admire how even in the challenging conversations you were able to make space for all voices.
You will be missed. Thank you so much. It has been a pleasure to get to know you.
12:25 p.m.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
I will be just as brief.
It's been a pleasure working with you. We may have given you a few more grey hairs than you expected at times...
12:25 p.m.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
... or perhaps we made you lose a few. We'll have to wait and see.
You've been an outstanding chair, you've always had open ears and tried to build consensus.
Thank you very much for these past two years.
12:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
Thank you very much. It is much appreciated.
With that, we will suspend temporarily. We will be back in camera in about two or three minutes.
[Proceedings continue in camera]