Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 7th, 2019

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

The ministers usually bring officials with them. I think this minister has always had officials from the Privy Council Office with her to answer questions.

She doesn't make a lot of decisions related to the expenditures of the debates commissioner, so we had the debates commissioner already. He came before committee and answered a lot of the questions that people might have had on the specifics. The committee also asked for her to come. Any time she's come before us, she's always had officials with her.

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

If there were a desire from, say, David to have the officials stay afterwards, if there were more questions but the minister was no longer available, would that be something the committee would consider? At this point I would ask the committee to keep it open until David comes to see if that's his wish.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Typically I wouldn't have an issue with that, but this is very narrow with respect to the debates commission. The official came to answer questions on that, David Johnston. We've already gone through that. I imagine there will be some questions related to the debates commission but it will go beyond that. We had all of the officials who are making the decisions on the debates commission. Otherwise, if there is a grand appetite.... I don't know, but that's already happened.

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

I just want to leave it open until David comes back.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Fair enough.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

That's it. I thank the committee. I think it was a very professional discussion and we dealt with a lot of business.

Thank you. The meeting is adjourned.