Procedure and House Affairs Committee on March 23rd, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Thank you.

Mr. Therrien, the floor is yours.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I have a brief question for Ms. Michaud.

The RCM of La Matanie is in your riding. However, I understood from what Ms. Lebouthillier said that you would like that region to be attached to Rimouski rather than to the Gaspé.

It is your RCM and your world. What do people tell you? What are their priorities?

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Obviously, all of the elected representatives who appeared before the Commission said they wanted the status quo. The commissioners then asked the regional elected representatives whether, if they could not get that, they preferred to be on the Rimouski side or the Gaspé side.

The regional elected representatives—the warden of La Matanie and the mayor of Matane—said that if they had to choose, they would prefer to be with the Gaspé, because it was more natural to do business with that region. That is the reason the commissioners also gave when they said they wanted to move La Matanie over to Gaspé, because it was what was wanted in the region.

So I find it hard to explain why Ms. Lebouthillier wanted to go against the wishes of the elected representatives yesterday.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Ms. Blaney is next.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

I have no questions. Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Ms. Blaney, you know the way to my heart. Thank you for that.

With that, I would like to thank our colleagues for coming to us and sharing these comments. If you have anything else to add, please send it to the clerk. She will share it with members.

Members, I wish all of you a good day.

Members of PROC, I will just let you know that next week we will be continuing with redistribution in Quebec. The clerk has divided that into about five panels. We're going to have two panels on Tuesday and two panels on Thursday.

Tuesday is budget day, and the lock-up might have a bit of an overlap. I have asked, wherever I can, if there is a way to have about a 15-minute window for people coming from committee to be able to get into the lock-up. If the lock-up closes at one o'clock and our committee ends at one, it would be really nice for them to accommodate our work, because we are doing work that is legislated.

That's just a heads-up. I will keep you informed. As I get information, I will give you information.

Go ahead, Mr. Nater.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Just very briefly, do you think maybe the clerk could send us out a bit of that work plan for the next few weeks, to—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

We're just working on it. A document was already sent out showing everyone who's coming, and it gives you a sense of regions. As the clerk is confirming, they're going to send out invitations tonight. The challenge, though, is that when we're sending out information that is changing in real time, it's hard to know which is the current document.

Let's just give them a minute to send out invitations, and then they will send you some stuff.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Absolutely. I appreciate that.

The other studies are also ongoing, as those are able to be confirmed. I just want kind of a forward-looking document, so we can see what's coming down the pike and plan internally.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Yes. We will definitely be working on that.

I'll just say, Mrs. Blaney, for the motion you've put on notice—and I know it's just on notice—there are some translation issues. I also notice the date of April 24. I think some of it is a matter of making sure the schedules are possible, because we still have to move it, and we still have to then work it.

I appreciate the prescription that's been coming with motions lately, but I would also like to remind members that if I understand the intent of the committee, we'll always try to deliver it. Having a bit of leniency does help us. We'll figure that stuff out and get you some information.

We'll see you next week. Have a good day. Keep well and safe.