Evidence of meeting #49 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was costs.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Mr. Brison, you had a conversation that we would try to have the staff that was here with the ministers back tomorrow, after we've spent some time looking at this, so with some knowledge we could ask some more questions. Is that what your're suggesting, that we have them back?
5:45 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Respectfully, Mr. Chair, no. I was suggesting that we, as a committee, ask the ministers to return tomorrow to this committee. We have between nine and eleven tomorrow for a more thorough discussion on the Speaker's decision, but also on their information provided today. My motion would request that the committee ask the ministers to return to committee tomorrow to continue this discussion.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I can share with you the amount of work it has taken to get people to this committee in a short period of time. We've had fairly long witness lists. I can't speak for the ministers, yes or no. Obviously the committee can't compel them to attend either, but--
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Ask is a good word.
Mr. Reid, on that same motion, and let's not go too far away. We'll do the semantics once we get the go-ahead.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
Actually I think we should have the semantics first, because that is the motion, and then we can debate the motion. That is what I was about to ask for.
Mr. Brison, do you care whether it's “invite” or “request”?
5:50 p.m.
Liberal
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
So it's Minister Toews and Minister--
5:50 p.m.
An hon. member
Nicholson.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
Minister Nicholson. Thank you. He was my direct boss at one time. He'll be alarmed that I forgot his name, even for a moment.
If that's the motion, then maybe I could speak to it.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
Okay.
I would just suggest that we come to a decision quickly, to either adopt the motion or not adopt it, because time is moving on. It's going to be pretty darned hard as it is--it's now 6 p.m.--to arrange something just to hunt these guys down.
5:50 p.m.
Bloc
Pierre Paquette Bloc Joliette, QC
These people are being asked to appear when we know full well that they will be unable to. On the other hand, having seen the document they tabled, we will certainly have questions for them. I think it would be appropriate to ask them to come back, and I hope they will.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
I have no problem with the motion, but I would like to ask Mr. Brison, since I don't know whether the ministers will be available or not, if he would like to include an addendum to that motion--that is, regardless of the ministers' appearance or not, we should invite the public officials to come back, since it was apparent that they put most of the information together that we have before us today.
5:50 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Respectfully, Mr. Lukiwski, no, because I think ministerial accountability is absolutely essential.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
I thought we were after getting the correct information, and the information could be provided by public officials. Not wanting to have public officials appear I think speaks to a larger issue here: why do you only want the ministers?
5:50 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
If Mr. Lukiwski is assuming that his ministers cannot provide correct information, then I would agree, but perhaps I have more faith.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I think his assumption was that if they were not able to attend, but....
All right, members, we have that on the floor: ministers only, no one else.
On timeframes, we have a couple of gaps tomorrow: from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I have a motion from our side as well, and that would be to invite the public officials to appear.
Can I move that now, or after the--
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Unless Mr. Brison wants to take that as an amendment to his motion, I'll have to take it as a separate one.
Mr. Brison, will you take the inviting of the officials as an amendment to yours?
5:50 p.m.
Liberal
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Chair, it would only be--I will give this to Mr. Brison--if the ministers are not able to attend.
