International Trade Committee on June 14th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Paquette, the motions will be dealt with at 5:20, unless you put a motion forward to look at them earlier. That motion would have to pass, and then we could look at them.

But out of respect for the witnesses who are here, I suggest that we break at 5:20 or so. To be fair, Mr. Paquette, we were ready to deal with this motion in the last meeting. I understand you had to leave for some reason, but we did it. We're not trying to stall in any way.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Chairman, last time we said we were going to consider my motion at the beginning of this meeting. That is what we agreed at last Wednesday's meeting. If you read the proceedings, you will see that this is what we agreed.

The witnesses were there, and the meeting began. I did not insist on having my motion considered. But this time, I do insist. I would like it to be dealt with immediately, and I think that the entire committee is of the same mind.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Paquette, you can ask for a motion to do that, but there's no stalling. We'd have time at 5:20 to deal with it, and it will be dealt with.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Chairman, I'm trying to explain that we were to deal with this issue two weeks ago on Wednesday, but did not have time to do so. Again, it was to be a priority last Monday, but it was not dealt with. Now, I am asking that the committee consider my motion immediately.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

If you do want to deal with it now, if you insist on that, I'll just ask the committee first of all.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I'd like to say something.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

It's a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

As I've said---

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

A point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Just before the point of order, as I said, the way to bring this on the agenda earlier---

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

There's nothing before a point of order, Mr. Chair, I'm sorry. This is the process.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Go ahead with the point of order.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

I move that we deal with the motion immediately. This is my motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Just a minute, please.

Mr. Coderre, of course, you can't make a motion on a point of order. If we could just get on to the next witnesses, we will leave time.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

The clerk will explain what the procedure is for us to go immediately to consideration of my motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Ms. Guergis, a point of order.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Thank you very much.

All I'd like to say is that I think it's pretty evident around the table that this motion is going to require a little bit of a discussion. It's not going to be a quick five or ten minutes, and I'll let you know now that I have a friendly amendment to the motion, which we will be discussing. It will take some time.

I think out of respect for the witnesses we should not be making them sit there and wait for 20 minutes for us to get on with our discussion with them.

I do hope you did actually hear what I said. Do I need to repeat it for you? I know you were talking.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Paquette.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Chairman, I suggest that the agenda be amended so that at the next meeting, that is after the break, the very first item is consideration of my motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Let's go to a vote on that, unless there is discussion. The motion is that we deal with Mr. Paquette's motion, which was given proper notice, immediately. We'll just go to a vote on that, if everyone is ready.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Paquette, you may present your motion, and let's dispose of this.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Chairman, I think we could quickly come to some agreement.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Is this a public meeting?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Ms. Guergis, it is a public meeting. Let's just deal with this as quickly as we can so we have time with the witnesses. But Mr. Paquette--

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

I believe that all committee members have had a great deal of time to look at the motion. It reads as follows:

That the Committee on International Trade prepare a report including recommendations to the government regarding the Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Framework Agreement based on the testimony it has heard and table this report in the House.

Since the House will soon be adjourning, I would like the report to be available by next Monday. I don't expect it to be 50 pages long. Some of the pages setting out the testimony we heard during the first two meetings would be sufficient.

Next Monday, we will be dealing with softwood lumber. For chrysotile asbestos, we were able to submit a very short report quickly. So we could settle the issue next Monday, or Wednesday at the latest, if the committee is of that mind, of course.

The issue is very simple. We can clarify matters by pointing out that the softwood lumber report will be considered by the committee next Monday. I know our research assistants, and they do excellent work.