I'm calling BS.
Evidence of meeting #67 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 meeting.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #67 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 meeting.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I'm calling BS. I don't think that's true. I think this is just a game. Drop the sword. End the debate. And if there's anything that we want to add afterwards, well that's nice, but it won't find its way into this legislation.
The minister is using that line as the excuse to impose the mid-July deadline. I for one am exactly where Mr. Richards is. That's a unilateral date that has no reflection other than to deny this committee the opportunity to finish our work in totality and forward it to the minister.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Do you expect the minister to write a bill in one night, not having made any decisions? It doesn't make much sense. You have to take the time to take all the input together and write the bill.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
So far you've been more than an apologist for the government. Is that going to be your new role, David? You're just going to be an apologist. If that's the case, then I'll just stop talking.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Do you have a good feel for the way Mr. Richards, the strength...that you could draft a letter for me? We'll pass on that strong sentiment to the minister. We'll see what the response is. Our first meeting back would be subcommittee on agenda, so we can see if we have a response and what we would do. Does that make sense?
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Yes, I don't know. Just as long as the letter is strong enough.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
If we're winding up, then I want to reiterate that I meant what I said. Most of this has been done in public, and there's a track record of our trying to be accommodating with the government as much as possible. We just have the dirty end of the stick in this whole process, and it doesn't look to me as if this is going to get resolved at all satisfactorily.
There may be a strongly worded letter. Whoa, boy, that's going to change the world. Also, I won't hold my breath for a response that has any serious relevance to what we're concerned about.
However, do understand that where we leave now is not a good place, and that will be reflected in the tone and the approach to our work in the fall. The government cannot have it both ways. You can't ask for our co-operation, receive it, give us the dirty end of the stick, and then expect you're still going to get co-operation. Understand that when we come back in September, we will not be in a very good place.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
The point is well taken.
Is there anything else for the good of the committee?
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Leaving this point aside, which we will follow up on, I think the committee has done some very good work in total.
Thank you to the Elections people. I think with an experienced Chief Electoral Officer some very positive changes will come out of this. Also, as Mr. Christopherson and Mr. Reid said on a number of occasions, we have worked well together and have been very productive, and we'll see what happens with this next hurdle.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
For the good of the committee, is there anything else?
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
I just said that, but I'll say it again. For the good of the committee, is there anything else?
11:50 a.m.
Liberal