Industry Committee on March 24th, 2011

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Yes, there might be an election. Rumour has it, Mr. Wallace, that there might be an election campaign.

Anyway, I wish all the best to everybody. I'm not going to get into hammering any more on this specific topic right now. I thank you guys.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Just before we go any further, in case a new round of debate comes up, could I just get a quick agreement on operational budgets?

There are two items that can be dispensed with. These are budgets and not actual expenses. We're just giving the clerks some discretion.

One is for $7,850 for witnesses for Bill C-568.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Isn't that the bill in front of us right now?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

That's right. We've already heard some witnesses.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

I have a point of order on that.

Is this payment for witnesses in the future or for witnesses we have already seen?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

There are some costs on here for the future. Of course, they'll be deleted. We're just giving discretion here.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Can you tell me what those future expenses are?

[Anthony Rota, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

As well, can you tell us how much we've saved by sending it back to the House?

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

We haven't sent it back yet, by the way. We have four or five minutes.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Let me give you the highlights: for the witness from Vancouver, it's $3,350; the two witnesses from Toronto are $1,500 each, so it's $3,000; the two witnesses from Montreal are $600; the witness from Sherbrooke is $400.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Has that already been spent, or is it going to be spent?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

We don't have all the details here.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Give me a guesstimate. If the costs pass, how much is for future witnesses? Give it to me approximately.

If for some reason there was no election called tomorrow, how many future witnesses do you think we would have?

[The Clerk]

For Bill C-568, we had eight witnesses confirmed.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

I don't know if this is public knowledge or not, but do you know which party requested the witnesses? Can I ask who is coming and who requested them?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

While he's getting that information, I will also talk to you about the Investment Canada Act expenses, at $9,800. That's for six witnesses.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

What's that one for?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

It's for the Investment Canada Act, ICA.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Is that for witnesses we've had thus far, or for future witnesses?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

It's for witnesses we've had thus far.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

I'll move the “thus far” one.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

And future ones.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Oh, and future ones.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Well, move it. If there are no future witnesses, then there are no expenses.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

This is a budget--