Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Dec. 16th, 2010

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Angela Crandall]

When I called Ms. Block's office, I spoke to her assistant. I told him that the committee wanted her to appear today and that the committee met from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We did not discuss the duration of her appearance, specifically. I did not specify whether she would be appearing for one hour or two.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Unless the simultaneous translation was inaccurate, Ms. Block said that she was asked to appear before the committee from 11 a.m. to noon. The two accounts, hers and yours, do not line up. That is the impression I have.

[The Clerk]

As I said, when I invited Ms. Block, it was a very short conversation. Her office was totally amenable to her appearing, but unless I am mistaken, we did not discuss the duration of her appearance. I expressed the committee's desire to meet with her today.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

[The Clerk]

I said that the committee met between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday. The conversation was not even five minutes long.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Ms. Ratansi, and then Mr. Reid, on the same point of order.

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Yes, and it could have been important had the committee made a decision so we could avoid this in the future. I can appreciate, as a member of Parliament, that she cannot be compelled to come, but when she was invited, she agreed to come. She wanted to help with the study. It is important for us to ensure that the study goes well.

With the witnesses who came before, we reserved the right to call them back. With Mrs. Block, we can reserve the right to call her back, but she can refuse to come. I don't think it's fair to her either that she doesn't get the opportunity to clarify everything. So I think it is important that we do not mix apples and pears.

Yes, those two witnesses came and we gave them an hour each, but we reserve the right to call them back. Next time, I think the committee should be consulted as to how many hours a witness should stay. That way, we'll avoid this problem.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Great.

Mr. Reid.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

I appreciate the solicitude that Madam Ratansi is showing for the well-being of our witness today, who came here, of course, of her own free will. I'm not sure I detected the same concern for her well-being in the inquisitorial nature of the questions being thrown at her, notwithstanding the Speaker's observation that Mrs. Block had acted with the highest integrity and the fact that members from all parties had, or course, been consulted immediately by Mrs. Block, and at that point none of them had thought it necessary to act in that manner. So I appreciate the solicitude for her and hope that we all reflect it.

I want to mention, by the way, speaking of solicitude, on this point, Mr. Chair, when we talk, as the Speaker did, of everybody's rights and privileges as members of Parliament being violated, that includes every member of Parliament, including and especially Mrs. Block. As a member of that committee, her privileges were violated. She was an aggrieved party, and to see her being treated in a manner that suggests she is anything other than that is to me a disappointing spectacle.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Okay. I've heard from most on this. It came out as a point of order. I don't see that a ruling needs to be made out of this. At this moment, I think we're finished with this point of order.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Chair, on the same point of order, very briefly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Well, I just said we were finished, but go ahead, Marcel.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Very briefly, Mr. Lukiwski said that he didn't hear us complain about the fact that the previous witnesses were here for only an hour. May I remind you—and I find it very insulting, Mr. Chair—we were sent an agenda as of 2:09 p.m. yesterday, less than 24 hours ago, saying that we would be sitting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with one witness, Mrs. Kelly Block?

We were not allowed two hours with her. I find it very insulting that the committee would convene us for two hours knowing that the witness would be here for only one hour.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you for adding to the point of order I already said I had enough information on, but it was just great to get some more.

Do we have anything else for the committee today?

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

Merry Christmas.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I would like to wish the committee a Merry Christmas. It's been a great session with you. We've done some good hard work, and we've got more to do.

I will see you all when we get back here. Please enjoy your time with your families.

We are adjourned.