Evidence of meeting #65 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 minerals.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Are you aware of the number, but unable to give it to me?
Director General, Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Strategy Branch, Department of Industry
Yes.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Chair, can I bring forward a motion to request that all papers from Industry Canada be provided to this committee in order to know how much the Government of Canada paid Volkswagen—which, I might add, has a poor environmental record in Canada—so we can receive that information at this committee?
Liberal
Liberal
Andy Fillmore Liberal Halifax, NS
We need to keep our questioning relevant to what's before us, and we have to respect the constraints under which our valued public servants work. I feel like Mr. Vis's request is really right up against the boundaries of good discourse here.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Well, I'll respond to that. We're doing a study on circular economy. I was listening to The Herle Burly podcast last night, and the number of $15 billion was being thrown around. I know that the Government of Germany offered Volkswagen over $10 billion to have a lithium battery-processing plant in that country. We're talking about a lot of money here. It's a very straightforward question. We all support the development of battery technology, but if there are taxpayer dollars at hand, that is completely relevant to the study and the operations of this government, and in the realm of what we're discussing here today, Mr. Chair.
Thank you.
Liberal
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
I believe the normal process would be to provide a notice of motion, a 48 hours' notice, in both official languages.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
I believe that under the process of committee, Mr. Chair, during my time I'm allowed to move relevant motions per our Standing Orders on a subject relevant to our study.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Okay. Just a moment.
Yes, you are, Mr. Vis.
In the spirit of the type of consensus that we've had around this table and in this committee, I was wondering, Mr. Vis—and we can continue to debate through points of order or debate the motion that's on the floor right now—if you would entertain this idea. Because you're asking, if I heard you correctly, for all documents, would you be willing to accept asking for a written response, and then we can take it from there?
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
You know what, Mr. Chair? That's a good idea. If they could provide us with a written response with the cost of the money that the Government of Canada, in their words, invested in Volkswagen to build a battery plant here in Canada—if the department could please provide that to the committee—I would be happy to amend my motion.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
I'm not sure that you even need a motion for this. It's a regular practice of this committee to ask for documents from witnesses. It's on the record, so I'm sure the officials with us will do what is in their power to provide the information that they can provide to the committee, as is always the case when we receive officials.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Well, if I request it under the power that all standing committees have to request papers, I can make it specific, and then we can have a vote. The power of the committee, the authority granted to this committee, is stronger if we actually have a vote on a motion, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Okay. I'll take it under advisement for one second, so bear with me.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Chair, can I just make one more point? I'm not asking for something theoretical. The witness told this committee that she is in possession of the information we are seeking, so it's a very specific request. I'm just looking for a number, and that number is, how much money did the Government of Canada give Volkswagen to build the battery plant?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Yes, I'm just not sure that you need a motion for that, but I understand that you want to move it and have the committee vote on it so that it has more weight in your mind.
I have a point of order from Mr. Gaheer.
Liberal
Iqwinder Gaheer Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just don't see how this motion is relevant. It is not specifically on the circular economy.
Chair, I'd like to ask you for the title of the study for today.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
I think it can be argued that it is within the scope of today's study when we're talking about circular economy.
Liberal
Iqwinder Gaheer Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
I think we're covering “Development and Support of the Electronics, Metals and Plastics Recycling Industry”, so if it's in the scope, it's at the far boundary of what we're covering today.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
It's completely relevant, 100%. It's a straightforward question.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
We're talking about access to the raw material as well in the text of the motion, and I have been in the habit of taking more of a liberal approach to the scope of what we're studying. I think this, as argued, fits in, so I will accept that it's within the range of the study.
Mr. Vis, you want to proceed to a vote on that. You want the proper.... What I'm saying to you, Mr. Vis, is that you don't really need us to go to a vote. You've asked for the documents. It's on the record, and the officials will get back to you, as they've acknowledged, but if you want the proper motion, then we can start the debate right now.
I have Mr. Fillmore.
Liberal
Andy Fillmore Liberal Halifax, NS
This is really wandering off the path here.
Canadian investments in Volkswagen are not related to “Development and Support of the Electronics, Metals and Plastics Recycling Industry”. This is an important study that needs to get done. It's not a fishing expedition for talking points that the member is looking for, for possible question period fodder. This is a serious study that needs to get done.
Mr. Chair, while we understand what the member is trying to get at here, I would ask that we suspend, please.