Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Oct. 31st, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Now, on the motion as amended, further comments?

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

I would like a recorded vote on it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

A recorded vote? Okay.

Mr. Russell, we're voting on the motion as amended. The amendment is that we've added the words “any dissenting opinion by some member be attached to the report and the report be tabled by the chair”.

(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 7; nays 3)

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Thank you, and we still have time.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

We can discuss witnesses next.

We can make the subcommittee now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Is that the pleasure of the committee, or do you want time to think about this? Do we start discussing the committee now?

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

I have another committee that's going on right now, Mr. Chair, that I'm supposed to be at.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

One thing we could discuss is what Mr. Albrecht mentioned about further witnesses as far as post-secondary is concerned. What is the pleasure of the committee?

Mr. Albrecht.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Mr. Chairman, I simply want to reiterate what I said earlier. We bring these witnesses in, give them ten minutes to make a presentation, and then not all of the committee members even get to ask one question. I don't think it's doing justice to the financial investment we make in bringing these witnesses here, or giving them the feeling they're being adequately heard, nor is it allowing us to be adequately informed on the issue. I don't think we've done it justice with the time we've had. If we could have one more meeting, and we have until the Remembrance Day break, I think it would be good, if there are other witnesses available, to bring them in and give them a little more time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Madam Crowder.

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

I'm opposed.

There are sufficient reports out there, and we could meet for months on this. Given the reports the researchers kindly put together for us and the overview we got from the witnesses, I think it's time for us to move on. I think we've got sufficient information to make some recommendations to the government on this. I'm opposed to extending the hearings on this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Lemay.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

I'll say exactly the same thing as Ms. Crowder, but I'll add something extra and I'll say it in French.

The testimony by Mr. GooGoo we heard this morning complements perfectly what we heard in the past few weeks. I respectfully advise Mr. Albrecht that other witnesses would only confirm or reaffirm what we already know.

I think that we can ask our analysts to get ready in order to help us write this report. I can tell you frankly that I would like to send this report to the House at the end of November at the latest. We have to move on. This is pre-budget time. So if we want our friends in government to include measures in their next budget, we have no other choice than tabling this report very soon.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Thank you.

Mr. Bruinooge.

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

Speaking to Harold's point, I would like to suggest that in circumstances similar to today, where we had a witness and members of not only our side but the opposition side who weren't able to get a question in...I think perhaps we need to look at almost a speed round or something when we're against the clock.

Going to Mr. Lemay's point in putting forward this report, being a new member I'm not exactly certain as to what type of process we're going to be following on that. Is there going to be a draft report that the committee is going to take a look at and then we'll go through it and make some suggestions? Can we think about a date when we could take a look at the report?

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

We're giving directions on Tuesday, which is the 7th. At that time possibly we can also discuss what we're going to do with the report from the subcommittee and give direction at that time.

Madam Neville.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

I wanted to comment on hearing more witnesses. I think we've certainly heard from many people and had many perspectives, and, as Madam Crowder said, there are many reports. Where I would give a little on it is if Mr. Albrecht has somebody in mind in particular who he thinks is important for his information. I have no objection to that, but I do not see the need to prolong it any further. As Ms. Crowder said, there are umpteen reports that have been written on it. One can simply go to the library and look at a few things.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Albrecht.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I'd like to respond to that, Mr. Chair.

I have no problem not having further witnesses. The point I'm trying to get at--I think Mr. Bruinooge supported me on this--is that I don't think we give adequate time and credit to the witnesses who do come. A ten-minute presentation and then a few questions from not even half our members? I don't think that's an adequate hearing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

The note is so taken.

As I said last meeting, there are challenges with this number of committee members. The committee has suggested that we have a cluster of witnesses on a topic, but you have to remember, too, that some of those witnesses are not going to be asked questions or are not going to have time to respond either.

So it's not easy, but I will try to do better--

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

That was no criticism of the chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

--in terms of making sure everybody has an opportunity to ask a question.

Madam Karetak-Lindell.

[Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

My point was just going to be that sometimes it's because the witnesses don't stick to their ten minutes. In order to be fair to every witness, if they take up more than their ten minutes, then that just automatically means less time for questioning. I know it's very difficult.

I think we've been more than fair to the last two witnesses--this one today, and Roberta--in that they were the only witnesses. All the questions were only to them. To me, that was more fair than if you have three parties, because sometimes they don't get to answer a question.

Just having been on the government side, Mr. Bruinooge doesn't always have to be the first questioner. He can give it to the others. Our PS was always very generous with us; we got to ask questions first, and only if there was room did they get to ask questions. That's something they can work out amongst themselves.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

I agree. As chair, I think I gave Roberta Jamieson close to--

[Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

Twenty minutes.