Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 9th, 2013

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

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I apologize for not having thought of this earlier when I asked my question. I just realized that as I was driving in this morning and listening to CBC, the first story on the news was that Minister Oliver is in London speaking about a natural resources issue. My guess is that's the reason he's not here. I forgot that.

I'm not sure how to deal with this, because it may be that he wants to make a presentation. I know there are all kinds of issues of fairness to Mr. Sullivan, who would then not be present for it. But I just think that an awareness on our part of the reason he's not here, that he's on another continent, would be relevant.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I was going to cover that at the end of the meeting, but I'll cover it now since it's been brought up. We do have a fairly detailed letter from Minister Oliver. I had more than one quick conversation with him about scheduling. He is out of the country a lot. Ministers of the crown have been hard to get here at the table. We've had a few, but those who need to travel in particular have not been here.

He said that his letter was fairly explicit. It was sent to all members of the committee. So it's not like you have no information from Minister Oliver on what he's suggesting. I recognize that you can't ask questions of him, but that's why Mr. Sullivan is here, and I think the committee will need to do what the committee has done when we have a conflict between two MPs.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

On that point of order, Chair, are there other accommodations that can be made for travelling members to be able to phone in?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Absolutely. We could sit in the summer.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I didn't actually say that in my suggestion, Chair, but I'm open to it. I wouldn't want to delay the entire electoral boundaries process for one minister who's travelling. The—

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Which is why he has said to us, “I've written a letter and please let it—”

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

But I think my point to Mr. Sullivan, and the cause for Mr. Reid's intervention, is that when a member makes what one would have to say is a pretty significant suggestion and change, not just to another riding, but potentially to other ridings, that would be better supported if the member were able to answer some of the questions that I and other committee members have for him. A phone call works, regardless of where you are in the world. The committee can accommodate that.

If a member wanted to phone into this hearing today and make a case and receive questions from us, we could do it like we do on other committees, I'm assuming.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

We certainly could. This committee has not set that up and has not done it. The minister had suggested, when we invited him here, to just use his testimony.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mrs. Marie-France Renaud]

His office promised to send more information in writing. We should have it today or tomorrow and then translate it.

[A voice]

That's not useful to us at all.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

All right?

Thank you.

On the same point of order?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

[Inaudible—Editor] is there not a deadline to submit this kind of question?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

There's a deadline for a member to submit their objection with some thoughts as to what their objection is, but we've allowed many members to come to the committee with information such as community of interest verification and those types of things.

No, we've allowed members to come and, if you will, add to their testimony while they're here.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Because we had a case before of a member—I don't know who he was, but a colleague—and you said it was too late.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Well, Pat Martin.... If I'm not mistaken, we've had more than one member who, well after the date for that province to file an objection, wanted to file an objection.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

And Mr. Oliver did that—

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

He sent us his original objection well within the timeline.

Mr. Dion, it's your time for questions. I know you weren't here.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I wasn't here. I was in the House at the request of my whip.

[Some voices]

Oh.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I understand, though, that we have a typical case, with Mr. Sullivan that saying he's pleased with the current request of the commission. He is here to say, don't change it.

[Mike Sullivan, NDP, York South—Weston, ON]

Exactly.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

And Mr. Adler is coming with a change that is supported by a neighbouring colleague—

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

That's correct.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

—that is within the range of the demographic request and will help two communities to not to be split.