I still don't understand. I mean, I understand what she is saying, but regarding the timeline, as my colleague Mr. Komarnicki said, could we maybe get an indication of how long it's going to take to get the information? We could take that first step and report back at our next meeting after getting an idea from Treasury Board.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

A timeline? All right. We could get the analyst to get the information.

Oh, I'm sorry. The clerk will get that.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Do a delegation from the analyst to the clerk...

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

Mr. Lobb, you had something you wanted to say?

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON

Thank you, Madam Chair.

If the committee feels so passionately about Mr. Martin's motion, then I would suggest that the committee not take it half-heartedly and take half measures. They should go all the way, to the most finite of details: the number of emergency calls to a hospital, the number of hours OPP officers or RCMP spend taking calls, or--

5:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON

--for rural development, the amount the provinces fund the municipalities to help certain communities in financial distress.

That's what I understand Madam Folco and Madam Minna to be speaking about: the true cost of poverty. We have to peel back all the layers to find out what the true cost is. We're only taking half measures here as far as I'm concerned. We want to know what the true cost is. We might as well take the time here and really find out what it is, because half measures don't give anybody.... We have to know all the costs.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

We are going to get more information and come back to this motion to continue debate on it, so is it the will of the committee to adjourn debate at this time?

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC

I had my hand up.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

I know. I want to ask first if we want to adjourn.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

I think we should adjourn debate until the next meeting or whenever we can get this information.

I also want to raise a point independent of it.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

Okay.

Mr. Martin, you moved it.

5:35 p.m.

NDP

Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON

I just want to say a couple of things.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

Sorry, but I first of all need to know if it's the will of the committee to adjourn this debate or to continue it.

5:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Adjourn.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

The government side says adjourn.

Do you want to continue debate or adjourn debate?

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Maria Minna Liberal Beaches—East York, ON

Adjourn it, as long as the motion is still alive.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

It's still alive.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Maria Minna Liberal Beaches—East York, ON

Okay. That's fine.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Can we just hear from Mr. Martin?

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

Mr. Martin.

5:35 p.m.

NDP

Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON

There was some reference about the clerk going to Treasury Board to see how long it would take to get this information back. I don't want to wait forever either; otherwise it will be too late.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

She's very efficient--

5:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!