Evidence of meeting #58 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mandatory.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Larry Shute  Deputy Director General, Economic Research and Policy Analysis Branch, Strategic Policy Sector, Department of Industry
Francis Lord  Committee Researcher

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

It was set to meet from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

Frank Baylis Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

These are specific people coming from overseas. Is that right?

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

Yes, that is correct.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

Frank Baylis Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Though I do agree with Brian and Chandra's point in a general sense, we've specifically already said yes to these people. They are guests coming from overseas, and the likelihood of them being able to change I would imagine would be limited because normally you're quite booked up. In this case, I would disagree with moving this particular one.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

Mr. Masse.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

On that point, though, we should find an additional two hours within the week to do our regular committee business.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

Frank Baylis Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

I have no problem with that.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

They are here for 45 minutes. What I'm trying to do is fill in the extra time we have there. That's where we stand.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

I'll leave it in your capable hands. My point in all of this is that if we're going to increase informal meetings, given the scheduling we have, I would prefer that we extend our current sitting days so it doesn't cut into committee time.

It's fine if we're going to do those things, but it shouldn't be at the expense of all the efforts we've put into other legislation. Even with my criticism of the government not bringing legislative improvements to their legislation, I would rather spend time on committee business to at least finish that, then if we are going to have guests, that doesn't eat into that time.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

In moving forward, I think that is up to the committee. Again, I'll stress that we did have this conversation and we did agree to this time.

I'm fine if we want to cancel it. Moving forward, I think that's a discussion we should continue to have on the protocols.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

Frank Baylis Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

I disagree with cancelling, and I would like to have a vote if we're going to cancel now, because I disagree.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

That's the motion that's on the floor.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

I'll rescind the motion, given the discussion. The point has been made.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

Fair enough.

Are we okay as a committee to revert back to the manufacturing for the first hour and 15 minutes or so?

That also leaves us with an extra hour on the 11th. Mr. Dreeshen will be back by then.

We learned a lot from our trip to Washington. Perhaps in that second hour we can have a conversation about our two motions on broadband and IP and see how that reflects on what we learned. Do we modify them? Are we okay? I think we should involve everybody who wasn't on that trip so they understand what we learned and how it can apply to our two studies. Let's make it productive.

The first hour would be the main estimates. We have Minister Bains coming in for the first hour, and the second hour we're clear. I'm going to jump ahead so you understand where we're going. On the 16th we have main estimates for the hour with Minister Duncan, and on the 18th, main estimates with Minister Chagger. We move the manufacturing to the next meeting, so that gives us an hour. We were going to have briefings on intellectual property and broadband to balance out the hours.

The analysts are scheduled to do a briefing on IP and broadband for the 16th and the 18th. We'll have experts coming in for that.

9:50 a.m.

Liberal

Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON

Yes, and also include the reports from the trip.

9:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

I don't think the report will be ready by then, will it?

9:50 a.m.

Francis Lord Committee Researcher

If the discussion about the trip is on May 8, we will prepare a briefing note. It will not be the committee's official report, but rather a document to inform those who were not there about the substance of what we saw during the trip.

As to the briefing notes on broadband and intellectual property, these will be technical briefings by the witnesses. I am in the process of drafting reports related to the preparation of the two studies. Considering the time required for translation in particular, I am not sure this will be ready for the two meetings, but there will at least be the witness briefings.

9:50 a.m.

Liberal

Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON

The technical briefings would be good.

9:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

The technical briefings are scheduled.

I'm saying, we can have an extra hour—

9:50 a.m.

Liberal

Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON

We can put those into the context of what we've heard from the Americans and maybe where we go with the study and what types of witnesses we want to get.

9:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

I think there's value in that, but that's why I'm bringing it on the floor.

9:50 a.m.

Liberal

Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON

Just to be clear, the notes for the trip will not be available by the 11th, will they?

9:50 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Francis Lord

By May 11, you will receive a briefing note on the content of the trip, but it will not be the report, which for its part has to be approved by the committee itself.

9:50 a.m.

Liberal

Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON

That sounds great, thank you.

9:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

I guess the question I'm asking is, is there value for this committee to spend that one hour sharing what we learned and applying that to potential directions in our two studies?

Mr. Baylis.