Human Resources Committee on Feb. 24th, 2016

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

I agree. We don't want to assume anything. The norm in this place—and I've been here for 12 years—is that you would have one minister come for an hour. I don't think it's really relevant if they were asked separately or all at the same time. Rather than going into great detail and asking about the exact wording of the request, we have to move on. I think it's our first choice that we have each minister here for an hour, followed by an hour.

A second choice, I would say, is if all three ministers are coming on the 11th, the same day, that we have them stay for the two hours. The last choice would be their being here only for an hour. The reason I say that is just the simple math. If we have them here for one hour, the first round, each minister gets 10 minutes, that's 30 minutes. That's followed by the first round of questioning, seven minutes each, and that's another half hour. That would mean the ministers would only get four questions. It's just really not a genuine opportunity to ask them. Just in the simple math, I think we have to go for option one, which is that we have them each on a different day. Option two would be if they all want to come the same day, then we ask that they stay here for the full two hours.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

I'm going to Mr. Sangha, first.

[Ramesh Sangha, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

We are new here and I understand that we have to decide together among all of us. If we feel that it's not possible to deal with three ministers all on one day, we can, first of all, resend the messages and give them the situation.

Second, if it is possible, can three be accommodated on one day or not? That's the question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Mr. Ruimy.

[Dan Ruimy, Liberal, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

My understanding is that the ministers will be here for the full two hours. So if....

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Okay, we'll get clarification that April 11 was the date we were given. I'd like to remind all committee members that we can't compel the ministers to be here, but this is the date we've been given. If two hours is what's being suggested, I think it makes a little more sense with regard to the timing and the breakdown, but we'll get that clarified.

Mr. Cuzner.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

I'd like some clarification. Apparently the wording of the request was that all three ministers would appear. They made it a priority, booked it out, and are willing to come for the two hours. I think it was to talk about their mandate. Having been on this committee before during estimates, I know that two ministers would often appear at the same time. You would have both of them for one hour. Both would be at the table for one hour only. With the estimates it's wide open; you can ask anything at all.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you.

Mr. Zimmer.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

We've had two at different times on agriculture, because it covered a topic that involved both.

It was worded as having all three. I distinctly remember that you suggested having all three ministers come. It was Mr. Long's request, and we agreed to it. To get us on common ground, I would suggest that the ministers appear for the full two hours. I would suggest a follow-up meeting the next day, in which any remaining questions could be asked of the officials. Mr. Cuzner knows that there's often a certain block of time. The ministers have only so much time, but they have their officials who can fill in a lot of gaps for us. These are huge files, so if we're going to go two hours for all three ministers, I would ask that we have a follow-up meeting with officials for another two hours.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

We could have it on April 13.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

I would make a request for that date. I know how hard it is to schedule three ministers together, so I want to work with that. Let's take it, but let's get the officials here for another couple of hours the next day. That's all I would suggest. Then it suits us both ways.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Mr. Ruimy.

[Dan Ruimy, Liberal, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

I'm not opposed to that. But I don't believe we can compel them to come. Their schedules may not even conform to the following meeting. I'm not sure how you'd like to address that.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

I'd like to clarify who we're talking about here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Okay, sorry.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

It's rare in my experience that a committee's request for the presence of departmental officials is denied.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Yes.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

It's one thing for the ministers not to be available, but it's another thing for officials not to make themselves available. I have never seen that happen myself.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

We're not talking about the ministers.

[Dan Ruimy, Liberal, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Sorry.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

I think we should have the ministers for two hours, and the officials the next day for two hours. That's what I'm asking.

[Dan Ruimy, Liberal, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

That's assuming the officials are needed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Yes, I better change that.

Mr. Long.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Yes, I agree. That sounds very reasonable to me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Mr. Zimmer, is this a motion that you're bringing forward?