Evidence of meeting #52 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 information.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
We'll have a recorded vote on option A.
(Option A agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
Option A carries.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Chair, for the record, now that we've disposed of that matter, I just want to have on the record once again that the government's position that the recommendation as carried is nothing more than a political statement, and we, the government, fundamentally and profoundly--
11:35 a.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
11:35 a.m.
An hon. member
Hold on--
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I have about six chairmen today, and I thought I was it, so let's just wait and--
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
We fundamentally and profoundly disagree with the recommendation. And, Mr. Chair, we give you notice that the government will be submitting a dissenting report.
11:35 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Chair, usually, when the government or someone else presents a dissenting report, it is certainly shorter than the main report. In this case, it should not be longer than one or two pages.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I understand that, and I think Mr. McGuinty was probably just about to say that when I recognized him, but I will put you both on the speakers list and we'll get down there.
Mr. McGuinty.
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
I'd like to come back to you after Madame DeBellefeuille, Mr. Chair, if I might.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
11:35 a.m.
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Chair, I want to thank Mr. McGuinty for being so gracious, and I want to ensure that he gets an opportunity for closing remarks.
I want to take the time to thank the analysts and all the translation and printing services staff, who put aside their personal time this weekend in order to draft a report, as we had requested. We sincerely thank them. These people are fathers and mothers, and we thank them for working on the weekend so we could do our work this morning. Thank you very much.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Excellent.
We do have some motions we have to do to finish this, but thank you again for that, Madame DeBellefeuille.
I think all of us say the same thing: excellent job. Thank you for all of your help over this last week or so.
Mr. McGuinty.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
That's exactly where I wanted to come to, Mr. Chair. I'd like to echo Madame DeBellefeuille's sentiments. I'd like to thank you. This has been a very difficult journey for you as chair. You've been scrupulously fair, in our estimation, and it's been a tough job. Thank you for doing that.
I'd also like to thank all of my colleagues. This has not been an easy journey for all members of all parties. It has been a terribly difficult outcome, we believe, and in many ways an unfortunate outcome, but one that we will undoubtedly take back to the House and deal with we hope expeditiously this afternoon and this week.
I wanted to offer my deepest thanks to you, Chair, and to the staff, of course. You've been remarkable in your fairness. Thank you, Chair.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Thank you.
I have a couple of questions for the group. First of all....
Go ahead, Mr. Lukiwski.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
It would certainly be remiss of the government side not to also give you our congratulations and our thanks for the job you have done. I know this has been difficult for you, not because it has been a matter that has weighed upon you from a political perspective, but from a medical perspective, I know, Mr. Chair, not to get into it.
I want to thank Mr. Proulx for assisting you the other day.
You have certainly shown, quite frankly, some courage. You sat there and had to deal with this for long hours and with a lot of heated discussion from time to time, in spite of the fact that you were hurting a little bit, Mr. Chair. I thank you on behalf of all members from the government side for some very, very good work.
I also want to echo all of my colleagues' remarks in thanking the analysts and the clerk and all of the officials.
You get paid not enough money sometimes, in my view, to deal with some of the stuff you have to deal with. When we see a committee like this, under a very, very tight timeline, get to a goal in terms of drafting a report, it's because of the hard work not only of members of this committee but of our unsung staff. Thank you very much.
