Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on April 19th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Okay. That's exactly what Mr. Albrecht has said. The chair just wants some clarification, and the chair fully agrees with the decision of the committee. So that's what we shall do; we just needed some direction on it.

Just to let you know, the budget for Bill C-44 was adopted, and we have the approval for the budget amounts to conduct this study or review this bill.

The other thing that was brought up for attention is that we advertised that the committee was dealing with Bill C-44 and was looking for people to have input via sending in briefs and comments. There's some question whether the way we advertised was sufficient to notify all interested parties. Somebody brought forward the possibility of expanding it and getting better coverage through Canada NewsWire. There's a cost to that of $1,000. What we did is simply put it into the press gallery. If they want to deal with it, they will. If they do not, they will just put it on the pile. And it's there on our website.

Does the committee wish to spend that $1,000 to put it on the Canadian wire service, just to make sure?

Mr. Lemay.

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

We're going to conduct a test, Mr. Chairman. The department probably has all the Web addresses of the Aboriginal communities. I suggest we send this notice to the First Nations. I have reservations about the idea of spending $1,000 in order to receive briefs from people whom we can't hear. I agree that we should inform as many people as possible, but perhaps we should go through the department.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Before I go to Mr. Bruinooge, let me say I've been advised that this type of thing has come up before, and getting all the addresses from the department sometimes is a real challenge. Just so you know, it might take longer to do that and cost more.

Mr. Bruinooge.

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

My argument against this would be that in fact, Mr. Lemay, what you're proposing is that marketing dollars be spent to advertise this committee hearing, and you're choosing one medium. It's one among many. Who are we, as a committee, to decide what medium is the best to get the word out? Some could argue that perhaps there are better ways than putting it on the wire services. Then we need to get into debate about how we market this. I'm not sure that medium is the best one. Perhaps it's better to do some other marketing scheme.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

I want to advise the committee that we followed standard procedure, what is normally done. This is all I'm asking: somebody brought forward a concern that they felt the message wasn't put out there sufficiently to inform the stakeholders.

Madam Neville.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I brought forward the concern, I think. My concern is not in any way to short-circuit the process. I was part of Bill C-7, which did short-circuit the process or did not do a comprehensive notification to communities on many aspects of Bill C-7. I think money spent up front is money saved at the other end. It would be money well spent to notify people or to expand the notice.

I don't view this as a marketing thing. I think it's information, and there are often private networks that go on, but I think it's expanding the notice of opportunity. Then we can't be held at fault for doing it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Let's get some determination by the committee.

Mr. Albrecht.

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

Mr. Chair, basically I think we have adequate notification.

But let me just ask the question: if we followed standard procedure, was it clearly indicated there that briefs submitted are public? If not, I think it should be in the future, for all committees: that briefs submitted are subject to public viewing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

We will make note of that for the future, but it was not specified when the notice was put out. And we've only had one brief that had a concern about it. As a direction from the committee, we will notify the person that if the brief is going to be submitted to the committee, it will be public. That will be done.

Mr. Lemay.

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

I have two concerns regarding the witness list. I would ask the clerk to check them. It appears that neither the people from the Barreau du Québec nor those from the Indigenous Bar Association of Canada have answered. I don't understand.

Do we reinvite them? I don't know what's planned, but it would be important for them to appear before our committee.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Bonnie Charron]

The Indigenous Bar Association will appear on the eighth and the Barreau du Québec on the tenth. I received confirmation this morning.

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

That's perfect.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

And I have that as the last item, Mr. Lemay. It's the rescheduling of the witnesses from the Tuesday meeting. They want to be separate, and we were wondering about extending a meeting of May 10 by one hour to allow them to be separate and give them that ample time.

Do you want the clerk to notify your offices and see whether that will work for you, and then deal with it? Would that be all right? Would you want to put in another hour and then have both these witnesses and have them more independent, at different times?

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

What do you mean by one more hour? Does that mean that we sit until 2:00 p.m.?

[Le président, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Yes.

[The Clerk]

That's a suggestion from the witnesses.

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

Why? Pardon me, but I don't understand.

[The Clerk]

We're talking about May 10 here.

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

On May 10, the meeting would last three hours?

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Yes.

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

Are we going to start at 10:00 a.m. or hold it between 11:00 a.m.

[The Clerk]

—and 2:00 p.m.

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

Really?

[The Clerk]

It's not confirmed; it's only a possibility.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Have you considered the possibility of starting at 10:00 a.m.?