Industry Committee on Oct. 3rd, 2016

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

For this segment, yes, I am.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Mr. Stetski, go ahead.

[Wayne Stetski, NDP, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Good decision-making comes from a willingness to hear from a variety of witnesses with a variety of viewpoints, so I know Mr. Masse would support hearing from some of these witnesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Mr. Dreeshen, go ahead.

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer—Mountain View, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

As was mentioned, these are amazing individuals who have been chosen for this particular committee, and I think it's important that we recognize what they have to say.

What I believe the committee talked about a few days ago was to come up with names of people we could invite. This is simply a different way of going about that same process. We have had these names available for people to peruse here in the last little while. I think this is simply an extension of the offer that was given. For the Liberals to suggest that simply voting it down is a way out of it ties into the points that both Mr. Nuttall and Mr. Lobb indicated.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Mr. Nuttall, go ahead.

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

This will likely be the final word before the vote, I assume.

I am left with the question of why we don't have confidence in these people. The Prime Minister has confidence in them. Mr. Bains has confidence in them. Could somebody tell this panel the rationale for not bringing these people here?

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Is there any further debate?

All those in favour of the motion—

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Could we have a recorded vote, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Okay.

The question is on the first motion of Mr. Nuttall with regard to innovation leader Valerie Fox.

(Motion negatived: nays 5; yeas 4 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Mr. Nuttall, go ahead.

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

I started a second motion last week. It was in regard to Austin Hill. We could perhaps proceed with that one at this point.

I would just echo what we've already talked about, with the only caveat being this: that this committee requires both sides coming to the table and making concessions, those concessions that I think I and others on the other side of the table have talked about. I'm still dumbfounded by the opposition to having the former chair or president of StatsCan here.

Going forward, I'm dumbfounded again. It's ridiculous. Maybe they know something about these people that we don't. It's very strange.

I'll read out Austin Hill's quick bio. He's the co-founder and CEO of BlockStream, a provider of Bitcoin and blockchain technology. He was a venture partner with Montreal Startup and helped create Real Ventures, Canada's leading early-stage venture capital firm. Mr. Hill was also a co-founder of Zero–Knowledge Systems, the largest and most funded research company focused on cypherpunk technologies for privacy, anonymity, and electronic cash—but not good enough to come to this committee, apparently.

I'll just read into the record that it's not because the Conservatives and the New Democrats don't believe he's good enough: it's because the Liberal members of Parliament don't believe he's good enough to come to this committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

I would suggest that you're putting words in people's mouths, but....

Go ahead, Mr. Dreeshen.

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer—Mountain View, AB]

I've had an opportunity to meet with the science ministers. We've talked about innovation leaders throughout the world. One of the key things has to do with blockchain technology. There's an opportunity for us at this committee, when we talk about manufacturing and innovation, to be able to bring in one of the leading experts in the world to deal with this subject, and we are certainly missing an opportunity here.

Perhaps the government members do not realize that they get a chance to ask the majority of the questions and to look at issues that could benefit every one of us here in this committee. We're responsible for that. Yes, we have an opportunity to ask questions as well, and this is what we're asking for. Certainly, when you look at the types of expertise, I think we are proving today, as we look through this and speak to the witnesses, that we are prepared to get the best out of every opportunity we have.

To use this particular ploy at this point in time, Mr. Chair, I think is deplorable. You have an opportunity on this second motion to correct the mistake we made on the first one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Is there any further debate? No? We'll go to a vote.

[An hon. member]

A recorded vote, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

(Motion negatived: nays 5; yeas 4)

Shall we go on to the next one?

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

I don't think we have enough time.

Mr. Chair, I would say, if I may, that we have been through this before, and it resulted in having to go through the media to get the minister to appear at the committee. It's just silly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

That will do it? Okay.

There being no further business, I adjourn the meeting.