International Trade Committee on June 14th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Your amendment to your motion was what, Mr. Paquette?

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

The amendment to my motion would involve adding that the report by our research assistants should be available to us by next Monday for an initial discussion, or even a final discussion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Paquette has already moved an amendment in his comments on his motion, and I'm trying to find out whether it's in order to--

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Well, the debate on the issue could well be over by next week. If this motion is to have any meaning, the committee should have access to the report by Monday. We could simply agree to that and pass the motion as is.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Ms. Guergis has a comment.

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

Thank you very much. First, I do want to apologize to any of the witnesses who are here for our delaying your opportunity to give us your information.

I'd also like to say that for Monday, we do have other additional softwood lumber witnesses on the agenda, so how are we going to include their testimony in a report if we're having a report ready for discussion on Monday? I think that's not really very respectful to those who had agreed to be here for Monday, so I don't agree with that.

I also have here, in both official languages, my own friendly amendment to Mr. Paquette's motion, and Mr. Chair, I'd like to know whether this is the opportunity for me to discuss my amendment, or I should wait?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

You can informally present the amendment and see what the reaction is. It may save time.

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

I just wanted to ensure that we can add that the report be structured into sections that would include a conversation on litigation, on what it has cost us in the past and on whether there is a potential for it in the future, and perhaps talk about litigation that has been won or lost in the past. I'd also like to have the report have some specific conversation on stability for the industry. I thought it would be helpful if we could have a long process on that. The amendment is in both official languages.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

You've heard the suggestion from Ms. Guergis. I'm sure she'd be willing to make it into a friendly amendment, if you would like to consider that.

In terms of the timeframe you're talking about, Mr. Paquette, I don't understand how we could do that. We have witnesses for the meeting on Monday. Wednesday's meeting is booked. How are we going to get a report out?

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Chairman, during the previous session. before the summer break, we prepared a report on chrysotile asbestos in two meetings. Mr. Ted Menzies was there at the time.

If necessary, we could work next Monday evening. Personally I see no problem in doing that. We are not talking about a 50-page report, but a report based on the two first witness panels' testimony. We might have to make some adjustments next Monday after we hear the witnesses, but writing the report quickly is something we are quite able to do. We have done it before, and I don't see why we could not do it again for softwood lumber, an issue that all committee members are very familiar with.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

I'm sitting here as chair, knowing that we have a full agenda on Monday and a full agenda on Wednesday. How can we possibly deal with a report, which could take another meeting? We don't have a meeting to deal with the report.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

We will deal with it on Monday evening, Mr. Chairman.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

This is not appropriate. This is argumentation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Paquette, if the House does sit beyond June 23, we could certainly deal with this on the next Monday.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

That is absurd, Mr. Chairman. We could sit on Monday evening. For Bill C-2, you had the committee examining the bill sit in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening. If we run out of time to deal with the issue on Monday, all we would have to do is add a meeting, on Monday evening or on Tuesday after the votes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

That's a separate issue, of course.

Yes, Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

We have the right to make this decision, and I would call the vote.

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

What about my amendment?

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

We are still on the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

We're dealing first with Mr. Paquette's amendment, then we'll go to Ms. Guergis' amendment, and we'll take it from there.

Go ahead, please, Mr. Menzies.

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

I would like a bit of clarification. Do our clerks say this is doable? Can we prepare a report of any consequence when we haven't heard from all the witnesses? Is it appropriate? Why have we bothered to call witnesses in if we're not going to listen to their testimony and enter that as part of the report?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

First of all, for clarification, we will carry on with the meeting on Monday. We do have a full slate of witnesses.

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

So then in that case, a report is absolutely inappropriate until we've heard all the witnesses.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

The only way it could be done is if we agreed to a meeting, and I'm not sure what the process is for that. I'd have to consult.

Yes, Mr. Paquette.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Point of order, Mr. Chairman.

I have not moved an amendment. I cannot move an amendment, since I am moving the main motion. I would like the question to be put on my motion, as Mr. Julian requested.