Evidence of meeting #146 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was turnbull.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
I just wanted to point out that Ms. Rempel Garner was entitled to her own identity. That was my only comment, even in French.
As for the rest, we agree. We are in favour of the motion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Thank you very much, Mr. Savard‑Tremblay.
I think Mr. Turnbull wanted to speak as well.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I know the meeting we had on this topic was a good one, where we all got into asking some pretty tough questions of the witnesses. We also clarified with the departmental folks that they are to provide the documentation referenced here. They agreed to do that in their testimony. They will provide that documentation to the committee. I feel as if this motion is moot, in the sense that they've already agreed to provide the very documentation being referred to here.
What I want to do is ask whether the clerk or the chair has received any of those documents yet. I believe they are forthcoming already, and the committee should probably take note of those and review them before we go requesting anything in addition to that. I don't think this is adding any value, to be honest, but if we think there's a need to ask for additional information, maybe we could craft a motion tailored to that specific need. That's if we feel the documentation is somehow insufficient, or whatever.
My understanding is that they were going to provide that documentation, and that it is forthcoming. Could we double-check whether we've received anything yet?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
As to your question, MP Turnbull, the clerk indeed received information last night from Finance. It was just sent to committee members at 10 a.m. this morning. It is also available in the digital binder.
Do you still have anything to add, Mr. Turnbull?
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Obviously, we haven't had a chance, because we've been in this meeting, to review that documentation. I would suggest that, if this is a real priority for us as a committee, we take the time to review that documentation before voting on a motion that is sort of redundant. Maybe there's something that's of substance still left in this motion, after that documentation has been provided.
We should take the time to review it, understand what is actually there and what has been provided, and see what it is that the committee desired but that may not have been met. If that is the case—I don't think it will be, as I think it will be fairly thorough—then we should give the benefit of the doubt to the officials who provided the very information that this committee was unanimous in requesting from them.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Just for my colleagues, what has been, at the very last minute, provided from finance officials to this committee is not what this motion requested.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I actually can read very quickly, thank you. That's why I'm successful in my career and why I typically outflank the Liberals on most things. Thank you for trying to presuppose my reading abilities, Mr. Turnbull. I assure you that they are very adequate. Thank you.
What has been submitted by the government is talking points. It's not what was requested by any of the members who are mentioned in this motion, and I think we should proceed with the production order.
Thank you.
Liberal
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First, I'm going to support this. If it is redundant, then that's fine. They can then weed out those parts that are redundant, and we can go forward with the information we get. You could actually apply the logic that's being used here to the benefit of what the committee could receive.
Second to that, on the timeline we have here, my only concern is that we should have some flexibility with regard to making sure that, at the end of the day, it doesn't hold up the report or anything else like that. It could be added value later, or whatever it might be, if we get into a document issue.
The meeting that a lot of this came out of was one of the most successful meetings, I think, and it highlighted a lot of the issues we're dealing with. Hopefully, this information will make our report even stronger.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Thank you, Mr. Masse.
Is there anyone else?
Mr. Turnbull, you have the floor.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I note that we received the email from the clerk at 10:04. Ms. Rempel Garner's intervention was at 10:08—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
One second, Mr. Turnbull.
There's a point of order by Ms. Rempel Garner.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I can read. I would like to assure my colleagues that I can read. I can assure the colleagues that there are no briefing notes and summary documents in the package that was sent. That is related to me. Since—
November 21st, 2024 / 10:10 a.m.
Liberal
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
On decorum, though, Chair, my colleague is impugning my ability to read. I assure you—A, B, C, D, E, F, G—this girl can read.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
MP Rempel Garner, this is not a point of order.
Mr. Turnbull, you have the floor.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Thank you.
As I was saying, there were about four minutes since the time we received these documents. There are over 50 pages, as I count. I haven't had a chance to read them myself, but I would welcome debate on this motion after having read those documents. I would like to actually look at what's being proposed and ordered here in this motion, as a series of documentation, and I would like to compare what we've received specifically to what's being requested here.
I think it's more than fair that we don't waste the committee's time. I think this is a waste of the committee's time. If we've already received the documents, then let's have a look at what they contain and what information has been provided. There was a lot of work, obviously, that went into this, at our request, when witnesses were here. Respectfully, we should honour the fact that we made that request. I remember clarifying with the woman, whose name I'm forgetting right now, what we were specifically requesting. She made a commitment, on the record, that she would provide that documentation.
It hasn't been that long, Chair. Maybe we could clarify when that meeting was and how long it has taken because, obviously, documentation takes some time to put together, at the committee's request. How long has it been?
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
It has taken 14 days to put together over 50 pages of documentation at the committee's request and then provide it to the committee. Come on, let's be clear here: That's a sufficient and realistic amount of time. I don't think anyone can say that the officials didn't do their job to provide the documentation we requested. We may have some differences of opinion about whether they have provided sufficiently detailed information in specific areas, but we have not had the chance to read over 40 pages of documents between the time that email was sent and four minutes later.
I don't know whether you're a speed reader. Maybe all of you are and you were reading as you were talking into the record here, but I think that's clearly nonsense. We need to focus on the fact that this committee—
Liberal