Evidence of meeting #139 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was year.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

David Christopherson  Hamilton Centre, NDP
Stephanie Kusie  Calgary Midnapore, CPC
Linda Lapointe  Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, Lib.
Andre Barnes  Committee Researcher
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Andrew Lauzon

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Mr. Christopherson, go ahead.

12:55 p.m.

Hamilton Centre, NDP

David Christopherson

Thanks, Chair.

First off, of course, I want to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday.

I'm probably a bit more emotional than most because I love this room and I love this committee. Some of the finest parliamentarians who have served have been on this committee. I love the non-partisan nature of what we do. I've been around so long now that I have no interest at all in getting a headline because I took a political shot at somebody. That holds no stimulation at all anymore.

What excites me, at the end of almost 35 years in elected office, happens when from our disparate positions we actually work together for a common cause and find compromises and common ground so we can issue reports and recommendations that we all agree on. I find that stimulating. I find that exciting.

A lot of that has happened in this room, because this is the only committee that has exactly the same time period. We don't move. We always meet at the same time, and we meet in the same room, except when we're doing big, big things, when we go to the big rooms. I guess it's about the intimacy of the room. This is one of the smallest rooms.

I'm being a little scattered, but that's just the effect of the emotions. On a personal note, 2018 has been the most tragic year of my life personally, combined with some exciting things, so there are a lot of mixed emotions.

Anyway, on a selfish note, I was mentioning to my wife the other day that I feel quite honoured that when I leave this place the emotions I feel will be shared by everyone, because you're all going through that now as we leave this building and move on. It's kind of nice that there's that shared emotion of “goodbye” to our parliamentary home for a while, rather than just one lone member not running again and having that feeling of “Gee, I'll never be back here.” There's safety in numbers. I kind of like that.

I just want to mention, too, if I may, while I have the floor, that on the issue of aboriginal languages what's really exciting, too, is that when our successors or some of you return to this place when it reopens, that won't be a big deal. It will be just the way we do business. Isn't that beautiful, to be part of something new that needs to be done to strengthen the Confederation and knowing, the way this place operates and the way Canadians are, that a decade or so hence it's not going to be a big deal but just the way we do things? There are so many areas of positiveness in which this Parliament plays a role, even on the international stage.

I'll wrap up, or I'll just keep going on forever, but I just want to say how much I get out of being in these meetings and how much respect I have for all of you and for the amazing staff we have who let us do this. I'm looking around the room at all the staff, including the security people who are outside, ready to take a bullet for us if they need to, and that's not an exaggeration for those of us who were here in 2014.

Special thanks to you, Chair. You've been an outstanding chair. You have a very unique approach to chairing that is very effective. Mr. Preston was like that. You felt that shadow as you took the chair because Mr. Preston was so widely regarded, but I can say, having served with him, that you have met that standard as best you can and exceeded it even. It has been a real honour to serve on a committee with you at the helm.

I wish you all a happy holiday.

Thanks.

12:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Thank you, David.

Before I forget, I also want to congratulate our staff, as you have. It was in my notes to do that. I think we actually have the best clerk and researchers of all the committees.

1 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

They have really kept us out of trouble—that's for sure—and they always have the answers we need. Also, we get the stuff in advance, so it doesn't lead to a lot of wasted time in committee, because the answers are already there. We really appreciate that.

We also appreciate that we have the best food of any committee.

Mr. Bittle, go ahead.

1 p.m.

Liberal

Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON

Thank you so much.

It's tough to follow David after such an eloquent response, so on what is possibly my final intervention in this place, I simply want to say thank you and merry Christmas to all of you, and all the best and much happiness in 2019.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Madame Lapointe, go ahead.

1 p.m.

Linda Lapointe Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, Lib.

I obviously agree with all these glowing comments. We're certainly leaving this place with some nostalgia.

I want to thank everyone. I want to wish you a merry Christmas and happy holidays. I hope that you have a beautiful, healthy and peaceful 2019. Continue to hope that we'll find peace and work hard.

I want to thank you all for always being here to help us. I really enjoyed being here with you.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Ms. Sahota, go ahead.

1 p.m.

Liberal

Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON

Thanks.

I thought this was kind of silly at the beginning, but now, halfway through, I'm like, “Oh, it's so wonderful that we're doing this.”

1 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

1 p.m.

Liberal

Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON

I'm glad we have the opportunity to share our thoughts. It has been quite emotional to be leaving this building, even though I've only been here three years; I can't imagine what it's like for those who have been here for years and decades before me. This building has a lot of history. It will be nice to see it restored and see it get the love and care it probably needs. I think that's the positive part of it. I just wish it weren't closed for so long.

I look forward to the new year and working with all of you in the new building, in West Block.

This committee was also something unexpected for me. When I was first appointed to it three years ago, I thought, “Wow. What did I do to deserve this?” Now I say, “Wow! What did I really do to deserve this?”

1 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

1 p.m.

Liberal

Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON

I think it's been fantastic. It's been a great learning experience. Working with all of you has been the best part.

Thank you. Merry Christmas.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

David, go ahead.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

David, in our very first interaction at this committee, at the very beginning of the first Parliament, you made some derisive comment that the rookies had no experience in this place. I asked you then if you meant to tell me that Tyler had no experience—because I'd sat next to him for a long time—and you got upset at me. So our relationship didn't start off very well.

But it's been a huge privilege for me to sit with really interesting people. We've built really good bonds on this committee. I think that's not overstating it.

Scott, I love saying this: I used to watch you on TV, and it's fun to work with you—David, a little less.

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

More fun to work, a little less on TV....

I love this committee. It's a lot of fun. It's one that has no value in the riding, none. Nobody in the riding gives a flying F what we do at PROC, but it is the most fascinating work you can do on the Hill. This is where we see what's going on.

That reminds me that we have a lot of unresolved issues, as we learned on Tuesday, with the reconstruction of this place. I'm really hoping we stay on top of that and come back to it a couple of times a year. Where are we at? Where are we going? Is it where we want to be going? The PPS is another really fascinating one. I never thought we'd be dealing with it the way we have been for the last three years. I hope we don't drop that bone either.

All of that is to say that it's been a lot of fun working with you. This is probably the last committee meeting to take place in this room as we know it, possibly ever. Who knows what it will look like when we come back? It might be the bar—again, we don't know.

Thank you. Happy holidays, and we'll see you at lunch in West Block.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Just before I go to Mr. Simms, I want to follow up on one of your comments.

I definitely intend to have another meeting like Tuesday's before this Parliament is over. We will not leave it until the next Parliament. It's very important; MPs want their input. I think you made that point clear. We have to make sure we stay on top of that.

Mr. Simms, go ahead.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Simms Liberal Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL

My name is Scott. I'm a Leo.

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Simms Liberal Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL

You know, there are people around us here, and I mean literally around us, whom I think we should thank as well. They're the people who sit behind us. They put on a brave face when we say something stupid, and they are delighted when we say something smart. Either way, usually the smart stuff comes from them, and usually the stupid stuff comes from my knee-jerk reactions, more than anything else.

Thank you, staff, for doing that. I say that with the utmost reverence toward staff, because they're the blocks that support us.

To my current staff, Courtney, thank you.

To my former staff, David, thank you.

The fact that he's still sitting here blows my mind. It blows everyone's mind, I guess.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

Your turn is coming.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Simms Liberal Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL

I came here with David in 2004, and there was a steep learning curve. Thanks to people like David Christopherson, that learning curve smoothed itself out after a while.

I say that collectively, for the entire class of 2004, including the former Speaker and current leader of the Conservative Party. He and I have had some great conversations. I learned from him as much as anybody else who came in then. I came in with no political experience. People like Mr. Christopherson had that experience.

I won't repeat the eloquence you just put out there, because I'd just do it an injustice, so I'll leave it at that. Thank you, David, for your kind words.

Thank you, everybody. Merry Festivus to everybody.