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

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Yes, about twenty minutes. Mr. GooGoo went to 18 minutes.

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

And he was good.

[Colin Mayes, Conservative, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

So I think I've been more than fair. I just feel that in the information they're giving you are the answers to the questions you would have asked anyway.

But there's a balancing act here, and I'll try my best to balance it.

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

I just want to clarify that I am not being critical of the chair. I am simply asking if we could analyze our system that we agreed to earlier. When we have only 45 minutes total, I think we need to adjust that. You did it this morning, and I thank you for that.

This is not a personal thing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Okay, thank you.

Madam Crowder.

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

I also want to express my confidence in the chair. In other committees I've sat on, not every member gets to ask a question. That's just the reality of it. Where there's more than one member in a party, there's often some agreement in advance on who's going to take the lead on it. In terms of maximizing the efficiency of the committee's time, the reality of it is that we often do have to slot people in for ten-minute hearings and rely on getting extra information from and asking those questions of witnesses outside of the committee meeting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

I'm taking direction from the committee now that we're not going to have any more witnesses for post-secondary education.

November 7 will be instructions, so be prepared for that. Be prepared, of course, for the Thursday meeting, November 2, on the estimates. Have your questions prepared for that also. You will be getting briefing notes on the estimates and what will be coming forward from the department. That will help you out in preparing your questions.

There's one thing I want to make a statement on. I'm not influencing the committee at all with regard to this, but we have been contacted, the clerk and my office, with regard to Mr. Martin, who has put forward Bill C-292 and would like to speak on the 9th. That works for his schedule. It doesn't necessarily mean it works for our schedule.

Does the committee want to open that door, or do you want to wait until we have information from the subcommittee on the witness list?

Mr. Blaney.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Mr. Chair, I would like to comment.

Mr. Martin is an elected member of Parliament like us. His duty is to sit in the House every day of the week as we are required to do.

Mr. Chair, I don't see why we should accommodate him when we have our own constraints as members of Parliament and when he should be present when Parliament is sitting.

This is unacceptable to me. I even think that it would be contrary to the parliamentary ethics to accommodate the requirements of a member of Parliament who cannot be present when Parliament is sitting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Lemay.

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

Let's proceed slowly.

Between now and Thursday, the Subcommittee will meet to review the witness list. We agree on this. On the 7th, we will give our instructions. So, on Thursday the 9th, there is no reason why Mr. Martin could not appear before the Committee.

In any case, we'll begin our review of Bill C-292. I understand perfectly that the sponsor of the Bill should appear before us. Mr. Martin is proposing a date that seems appropriate. Our Committee sits on Thursday, November the 9th, and Mr. Martin asks only to appear before us, so pourquoi pas? I don't see any problem.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Bruinooge.

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

We have already instructed the subcommittee to address the witness list, so we'll see what their report is and come back--

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

We will do that, but I just wanted to put that out there.

Madam Crowder.

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

It's quite normal for the proponent of a private member's bill to appear before the committee. It would make sense if he were the first witness, no matter what the witness list was. I would support his coming forward on the 9th. We're going to have to hear from him, so why don't we go for it? Then we won't have to worry about scheduling the 9th.

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

I told you that your English was deficient. You understood « the night », la nuit?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

It is the 9th.

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

No, it's the Night of the Long Knives.

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

On the 9th.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Excuse me.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

We'll discuss that with the committee and make a recommendation, but there is ample time to give notice anyway.

Is there anything further?

The meeting is adjourned.