Evidence of meeting #51 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 decision.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Why wouldn't this go to the Department of Finance, where the original request was made to the government back in October, November, four months ago, to get this information delivered?
Conservative
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Mr. Lukiwski, very quickly, and then we will get to this. We are cutting into our witness time.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
It will be quick, Chair.
I just want to say that I'm getting increasingly disturbed by Mr. McGuinty's continuous mischaracterizations of comments that I have made.
I stated quite clearly that I am in total agreement that all documents presented before committee--any committee in this Parliament--should be bilingual, should be in both official languages. I merely pointed out that there had been requests made, and that's why the documents....
When you received them in one language, you brought them forward to the committee. If they don't want to see them, that's their choice.
I agree that it should be in both official languages. That characterization, saying that I was trying to force it on this committee, is absolutely false and uncalled for.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Okay, let's not get into debate. We've been around and we've got this done.
I can confirm that they've gone to the finance committee as well, so another committee can also deal with this.
Monsieur Paquette, you've offered a solution, perhaps, that we distribute these as they're translated.
Does the committee agree with that?
I see nods, but I'll verify today that we're all in agreement with this. Okay, then that's what the committee will do.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
The table of contents, Mr. Chairman?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
We'll send it out by e-mail very quickly, the table of contents and the letter from the minister. I know that the clerk has been working double-hard this week with this committee, so asking her to go through the book—
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
How many pages are there, Mr. Chair? How big is this material?
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
We received a foot of documents not translated here, is that right?
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Again, I haven't gone through them myself to look at what is and what isn't. It's my understanding--
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Yes, I understand, Mr. Proulx. I just used midnight to six for sleep, and I should not have. It won't happen again.
The committee will move on from there.
Just one other real quick thing. I'd like to thank this committee for the hard work it has done over the last couple of days.
I had a little bit of a health issue yesterday afternoon near the end of the committee and I wanted to thank in public Monsieur Proulx for first of all noticing that I was having a bit of distress, and his understanding and help with it.
Mr. Lukiwski also did a fantastic job of keeping me on track at a time when I really wanted to get out of here, and it worked.
I thank the committee for its indulgence. We'll see if we can't just get through a whole day of work without anything happening again.
Monsieur Proulx, my gratitude to you. It will be forever in my heart that all parliamentarians are great people.
Thank you.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Thank you.
You would have done the same thing had I been in distress.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I would hope that's the case.
Professor Franks, it seems so long since we've seen you. We're here, of course, on a different motion of privilege this morning, and I know you have some stuff to share with us on it.
Do you have a short opening statement today?
Dr. Ned Franks Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Studies, Queen's University, As an Individual
I do, sir.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
How short might it be today?
I've taken an amount of your time this morning, and we have a minister coming in at the end of the hour.
Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Studies, Queen's University, As an Individual
And I can't take any of his time.
Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Studies, Queen's University, As an Individual
Her time, sorry.